CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES AND PRODUCTS OF INDIA. 137 



four days, when the seed is easily threshed out. Cattle eat the broken 

 stalks, but it is questionable how far it is a very nourishing food for 

 them. It is sold in the bazaar at from 1 6 to 20 seers per rupee, and 

 yields, under the native method of crushing, 30 per cent, of a tolerably 

 pure oil, while the residue, or cake, is used as a food for cattle. It 

 would yield more and a purer oil, under the action of the oil-pressing 

 and purifying processes of Europe ; and probably 35 to 40 per cent, of 

 its gross weight. It is largely used by the native community with their 

 food, instead of ghee, under the name of metali, or sweet oil ; although, 

 for all other purposes it passes under the name of kurivah, or bitter oil. 

 Most natives prefer it for the preparation of their curries and other warm 

 dishes. The native oilmen give one seer, or 25 per cent, of the expressed 

 oil, for every four seers of seed sent them, retaining the balance and 

 the cake as the price of labour ; so that, with the seed at 16 seers per 

 rupee, the value of the oil would be four- seers per rupee. 



Of the Sesamum Orientate (Teel) a most useful plant, there are in the 

 district of Shahabad two kinds, and both are extensively sown in various 

 parts. The first is sown in July, and is ready for reaping in Kartick or 

 Aghun, say in November : the second is sown in August, but they are 

 both ready nearly at the same time. These plants are also sown as auxi- 

 liaries, but with the highland rain crops, such as Ruhur, Motha, &c. 

 The seed has about the same value as Surson in the bazaars, but the oil 

 being thinner and purer, and almost tasteless, while burning with little 

 smoke, is extensively used in Indian perfumery. It is extracted from 

 the seed in the same manner as other oils. The residue or cake is eaten 

 by the poorer classes as an article of food, and is greedily devoured by 

 cattle. It grows on sandy loams. 



There are two varieties of the Sesamum indicum. The one white 

 seeded called " Teellee," the other black seeded, called " Kala Teel." 

 The two kinds are never sown together, but each is cultivated as a mixed 

 crop with either Eleusine Coracana, " Merwah ;" Paspalum scrobicula- 

 tum, " Kodo," Cajanus Indicus, " Arhar," or with cotton in the month of 

 June. These plants grow all over Oude without the slightest difficulty, 

 and without any care being taken of them. They are often met with 

 growing luxuriantly by the road side. The oil is extracted by pressing. 

 The cost of the seed of the white variety is 11 seers per rupee, and of the 

 black 1 2 seers per rupee. The oil of the former fetches from 2-| to 4 

 seers per rupee, and of the latter 3 to 8 seers per rupee. Every 5 seers 

 of each kind yield 1^ seers of oil. These seeds are also eaten by the 

 natives made into sweetmeats ; used for cooking and burning. 



One maund of Teel (Sesamum Orientate) seeds produces 13 seers of oil. 

 Cost, 4| rupees. Expense of conveyance to Calcutta, in dry season, 

 10 rupees per 100 maund. It is cultivated all over Oude for the 

 sake of the oil contained in it. It is used for cooking and burning, and 

 the seed boiled in sugar makes a sort of sweetmeat. It is often grown 

 as a mixed crop. 



VOL. III. L 



