4 The Natron Lake of Loonar, [no. 1, new series, 
lake by dealers, who carry it to considerable distances in bani,boo 
baskets, and retail it. 
The lake has not been worked regularly since 1836, twenty 
years ago. A detailed statement'^' of the re- 
^slu Ti^adf ' s^l^s then obtained, is appended for the in- 
formation of the General Committee. From 
this carefully prepared table, it will be seen, that 2,136 candies of 
the several kinds of salt were raised, each candy being equal to 
240 seers. The aggregate vali\e of the whole being Rups. 60,081, 
of which sum, the Government (Native) share amounted nominally 
to 45,000. Since then. Major Johnston informs me, the lake has 
not been worked, and the salts are consequently in great demand, 
so much so, that inferior substitutes for the salts, supposed to be 
obtained from vegetable productsf are procured from Bombay and 
sold in both Berars. Last year (1855) Major Johnston, as an ex- 
periment,J raised from the lake 35 candies of the several descrip- 
tions of salt, the value of which amounted to Hyderabad Rupees 
1,461-4, the expense of raising, &c. to Rupees 522-9-9 leaving 
a profit to Government of Rupees 938-10-3 equal to about 
Rupees 26 per candy. 
The suggestions which have been proposed for increasing the 
Suggestions under con- productiveness and revenue of the lake, and 
siderationfor enhanc- ^yhich are at present under consideration may 
ing the revenue of , , 
the Lake. be stated briefly to consist of — 
1. — Contrivances for preventing the flushing of the lake with 
water, supplied by the main-feeder, and by the several 
streams from the surrounding water shed — such as bunds 
and channels. 
2. — Means for raising the salt with facility, and in due quanti- 
ty — such as dredging machines. 
3. — Means for procuring the salts in greater purity — such as 
evaporating pans. 
4. — Means for protecting and preserving the salt raised — such 
as sheds, store-rooms, &c., with careful supervision by 
trustworthy Government officials. 
* Vide Appendix No 1. 
t Impure carbonates of potass from burnt wood probably, 
j Vide Appendix No. 2. 
