938 



INDIA, OR HINDOSTAN. 



when cut, exudes a liquor called toddy, from which, when fermented, is distilled an excellent ar- 

 rack. In fact, the Hindoos celebrate its 365 uses. Superior to this in the magnitude of its leaves, 

 one of which will sometimes shade 12 men, is the Palmyra palm {Borassirs flabelliformis) , which 

 sometimes reaches the height of 100 feet. Another species of palm (Sagus Jarinijera)^ yields 

 the Sago, much used for puddings. The betel {Arecha catechu) is cultivated all over India 

 for its fruit, the well known betel-nut. The Indian fig {Fictis reUgiosa), likewise called the 

 banyan and the wonder-tree, is sometimes of an amazing size, as it is continually increasing ; 

 every branch proceeding from the trunk throws out long fibres, which take root in the earth, 

 and shoot out new branches ; these again throw out fibres that take root, and continue to in- 

 crease as long as they find soil to nourish them. Of fruit-bearing trees the number is very great, 

 and the fruit delicious, especially pomegranates, oranges, lemons, citrons, dates, almonds, man- 

 goes, pines, melons ; and, in the northern parts, pears and apples. In some parts, large tracts 

 are covered with a dense mass of foliage and vegetation, crowded and twined together in such 

 a manner as to be almost impenetrable. This forms what is called njungle^ composed of huge 

 trees, prickly shrubs, and canes or bamboos, which in a few months run up to the height of 100 

 feet. Not less gigantic as a grass, than the banyan as a tree, is the bamboo {Arundo bambos), 

 whose light and jointed stems often exceed 100 feet in height. The wood is extremely dura- 

 ble, and is used for various purposes. The cotton-tree { Gossypium herbaceum) , sugar-cane 

 ( Saccharinum ojficinarum) , and indigo plant (Indigofera tinctoria), are natives of India, and 

 are extensively cultivated. Cajeput oil is the produce of an East India shrub {Melaleuca 

 leucadendron) ^ and caoutchouc, or Indian rubber, is the inspissated juice, not only of several 

 species of fig, but also of the gum elastic vine (Urceola elastica). Ginseng (Panax gin- 

 seng), which is highly prized in China, belongs to the same genus with the wild ginseng of this 

 country, which is also exported to China. Sandal wood (Santalum album), is a well known 

 fragrant wood, much used for ornamental and religious purposes by the Hindoos. The true 

 spikenard, or Indian nard (Valeriana jatamausi), has been employed as a perfume from the 

 remotest antiquity. 



7. Animals. Of the wild animals of Hindostan, the tiger, for his size and strength, may 

 claim the first place ; the royal tiger (as he is called) of Bengal grows, it is said, to the height 

 of 4 or 5 feet, with a proportional length, and has such strength, that he can carry off a bul- 

 lock or a buffalo with ease. Elephants are here very numerous and large. Here are also rhino- 



Tiger attacking an Elephant. .Intelope and Leopard. 



ceroses,_wdd-boars, lions, bears, leopards, panthers, lyxes, hysenas, wolves, jackals, and foxes, 

 with various species of apes and monkeys, and many beautiful antelopes, particularly that large 

 kind called the nyl-ghau. Wild buffaloes, which are very fierce, and have horns of extraordi- 

 nary length, and the yak or grunting ox, are also numerous. 



8. Minerals. Iron, copper, and lead are abundant in various regions, but the mines are lit- 

 tle wrought. The soil in many places is impregnated with saltpetre and soda, which is deposit- 

 ed upon the surface in moist weather in great quantities. Borax or tincal is obtained by evapo- 

 ration from many saline lakes. Diamonds are obtained by washings in several localities upon the 

 Krishna, and the Godavery, and in Bundelcund ; there are no mines in Golconda, but the dia- 

 monds are cut in the city of that name, which is a great mart for this gem, and this has led to 

 the mistaken notion, lhat the diamond districts were in its vicinity. Ranlconda, in Visiapour, 



