MANUFACTURE OF BANGLES FROM THE CHANK-SHELL. 185 



The Chebulic Myrobalans (T. Chebula) have oval glabrous drupes, with 

 the nut irregularly and obscurely five-furrowed. The outer coat of the fruit, 

 mixed with sidphate of iron, makes a very durable ink. The fruit is very 

 astringent, and on that account much used by the Hindoos in their arts 

 and manufactures. The unripe dried fruit, which is the Indian or black 

 Myrobalan (Kooroovillah-cadookai, Tamsihal) of old writers, and sold in the 

 Northern Provinces of Bengal, are recommended as purgative by the natives. 

 The native names of the Chebulic Myrobalan are Kadu-kai-marum, 

 Tarn.; Kodorka-marum, Mai. ; Karakai, Tel. ; Huldah, Du 7c. ; Hor, or Hara, 

 Hind. ; Haree-tukee, Beng. Myrobalans should be chosen fleshy and plump, 

 the least wrinkled and black that is possible, such as are resinous within, of 

 a brownish colour, an astringent taste, with a little bitterness, are to be pre- 

 ferred. There are several other species of Terminalia, and the fruit of these 

 come occasionally mixed in the imports. Under the name of Kirritochee, 

 probably intended for Kara-tukee, imports have been made into London of 

 the small drupes of T. angustifolia, which are compressed, two-winged, and 

 gibbous on one side. 



The drupes of Terminalia Citrina are about half an inch longer than 

 those of the Chebulic. They are obtained chiefly about Goa and the 

 Malabar coast. These are the Hara nuts of the Hindoos. The fruit, which 

 is a gentle purgative, is often made into a pickle. 



Eniblic Myrobalans are the fruit of the Emblica officinalis, belonging 

 to the Euphorbiaceae. When fresh, they are about the size of a gall-nut, 

 rough, and ridged on the outside. The plumpest and blackest of these are 

 most esteemed for tanning and ink-making. When dry, they become very 

 wrinkled, have a slightly aromatic odour, and an astringent taste. 



Myrobalans are imported in bags from 1 to 1-^ cwt. each ; the annual 

 import into the kingdom often reaches 9,000 tons, and the prices have 

 ranged from 11. to 14Z. per ton in the last ten years. 



ON THE MANUFACTURE OF BANGLES, OR BRACELETS, FROM 

 THE CHANK-SHELL IN INDIA. 



BY THE EDITOR. 



Under the commercial name of Chanks, the large, white, concave shells 

 of TurMnella pyrum, Lam, the Valuta gravis, Linn., are much prized and 

 extensively used in Bengal. The shell is ventricose above, pear-shaped, 

 fulvous white, with reddish spots in young individuals ; spine small nmcro- 



VOL. II. 







