478 CLIMATE OF 



dhiali, a a small quantity of coarse tobacco, two kinds of bhang or hemp,b 

 various pulse, a small quantity of cotton and ginger on the banks of the 

 Setlej, and other rivers and streams, Indian corn in a very limited quan- 

 tity, kangni, chenna, d marwa or koda, e til, f seru or sarson.s The 

 fruits are apricots, 11 peaches, cherries, small and very acid apples, pears, 

 a few grapes, mulberries, filberts, walnuts, > bymi or bymbi a hardy spe- 

 cies of apricot or peach (the stone of this fruit much resembles that of the 

 common apricot which is abundant throughout the hills) with strawber- 

 ries, large, and of an excellent flavor and taste, red, pale, yellow and se- 

 veral kinds of black raspberries, two or three kinds of barberries besides 



a These edible roots are cultivated in great quantities all over the liiils but are more general in the 

 Interior and constitute in no small proportion the winter food of the people; the leaves of them are 

 also eaten as vegetables. b These plants grow most luxuriantly and aitain a respectable height, 

 but are chiefly cultivated in this part of the mountains for domestic purposes. The quality of the 

 liemp is good and might easily, under proper management and care, by giving encouagement to the 

 cultivators, be produced to any extent for export trade and is not unworthy of the notice and attention 

 of private speculators. It is chiefly cultivated at and about all villages and also grows spontaneously 

 in vast quantities. To coaie to great perfection, it seems to require a rie'i and well taianured soil. To 

 the South East in the mountainous parts of Geihwal, Hemp is a staple article of commerce. The seed 

 of these plants is partly expressed into oil, and partly, as well as almost all other grains and pulse, 

 eaten by the inhabitants in a parched state. An intoxicating preparation called Chinas is extracted 



from the leaves of the bhang by means of rubbing them forcibly between their ha-ids, to which the na- 

 tives of all ranks and classes are much addicted. In appearance it is not uusimilar when extracted to 

 old opium. It is exported in considerable quantities and used by mixing and smoking it with tobacco. 

 The same attention might be applied to the extraction of the guru of turpentine and to the manufacture 

 of pitch fiom the inexhaustible pine forests with which the mountains are covered. It is only in the vi- 

 cinity of the lower hills that any regard is given to its extraction and is collected in a very small quan- 

 tity, but, in the course of time, both these articles might prove of great value in a commercial point of 

 view. There are other natural productions unnecessary here to notice, besides those enumerated above, 

 to which speculators might apply some of their resources with advantage and profit to themselves. 

 c Panicum italicum. d Panicum miliaceum. e Paspalum Srpbiculatum. t In a small quan- 



tity only at this height. The oil expressed from the seed of the til is sweet and an excellent substitute 

 for sailed oil, the only objection to it is, its rather nauseous smell, but when used this is not perceptible. 

 S Made into oil and the leaves when tender are also used by the natives as a vegetable. h The fruit 



is gathered when perfectly ripe; the stones broken and the kernels taken out and expressed into an 

 excellent oil for burning. Although the kernels from their extreme degree of bitterness, one would sup- 

 pose, are hardly palatable, yet I have frequently observed the natives prepare them in such a manner as 

 to permit of their being eaten with their food. » Having thicker shells than those produced in the 

 lower hills ; many of these trees on elevated places attain a great size. 



