138 CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES AND PRODUCTS OF INDIA. 



The black Sesamum (Kala Teel) contains more oil than the white 

 kind, and is eaten with goor : price 11 seers per rupee. 



The white and black sesamum are ordinarily used in the manufac- 

 ture of oil in Eangoon. In Moulmein it is used as oil for household 

 purposes ; one basket will yield about 25 viss of oil. 



Price at Lahore about 9 lbs. per shilling. Both teel and linseed are 

 mentioned by Strabo as staple products of this part of India. Of late 

 years the cultivation of these seeds, and oilseeds generally, has greatly 

 increased, especially in the Mooltan and Perozepore districts, and consi- 

 derable quantities have lately been exported to France. 



The Brassica E. rucastrum (Taree " Gomvah " or " Semvah") is culti- 

 vated in Lucknow in the same way as the above, the cost of the oil is 

 from 3 to 10 seers per rupee. It is used for burning. 



All oils in Oude are extracted by the native press called " Kolhoo," 

 turned by means of bullocks, - with the exception of castor-oil seed, 

 the oil from which is extracted by boiling in water, and afterwards 

 skimming. 



The Carthamus tinctoria (Kussoom) found in Lucknow, is sown 

 in October either alone, or along the edge of wheat crops ; both light 

 and heavy soils are adapted to it. It is cultivated in every village, but 

 not extensively. There would be no difficulty in further cultivating it 

 to any extent. The oil is extracted by pressing ; used only for burning. 

 The cost of the seed, which is ca]led " Barre," is 18| seers per rupee, 

 and of the oil from three to four seers per rupee. This plant is also 

 useful for the bright scarlet dye that its flower yields. 



The Bassia latifolia (Mohwah) a middle-sized tree, grows wild in the 

 Taree, and is also planted in groves in most parts of Oude, near villages, 

 &c. Its cultivation can be extended all over Oude, and it thrives with- 

 out any trouble. Its flowers have a thickened and enlarged tube, in 

 which is contained a considerable amount of sugar. They are dried and 

 eaten by the natives, and also fermented for the manufacture of Mohwah 

 Spirits. The cost of the oil extracted is 3 rupees per niaund. The pro- 

 portion of oil yielded by the native process is about half the weight of 

 the seed ; used only for burning. 



The poppy plant (Papaver somniferum), Poshtah-ka-danna, is largely 

 cultivated in all parts of Shahabad and Behar, as also in the neighbour- 

 ing districts, for the drug (which is a Government monopoly), the well- 

 known opium of commerce. The seed has no intoxicating qualities, but 

 has a sweet taste, and is used parched by the lower class of natives as a 

 food ; it is^also much used by the sweetmeat -makers as an addition in their 

 wares. This and the seed of the teel Sesamum Orientate are the only 

 oilseeds, with the exception of the pulp of the cocoa-nut, which are used 

 for that purpose. It produces, under the native method, a clear limpid 

 oil, which, however, has the disadvantage of burning very quickly. 

 About 30 per cent, of oil is extracted, and the cake is then sold as a food 

 to the poorer classes. The oil at present sells at about 5 seers per rupee- 



