OCT. — DEC. 1856.] The ISlairon Lake of Loonar. 3 
of 40 per cent of the neutral carbonate, being found close to the 
saline springs themselves — whence it is raised by diving. The 
depth of the lake near the springs, varies from 5 or 6 feet in the 
hot months, to 12 or 14 during the rains. 
There are six principal varieties of salt to which the natives 
give the following names: — 1 duUa, 2 nim* 
Description of Salt. 
uck dulla, 3 khuppul, 4 puppree, 5 bhoos- 
kee and 6 madkhar. Dulla and nimuck dulla are used for dyeing 
silks, fixing colors, and as medicine, and in the manufacture of 
bangles.* Of khuppul, ^thefe are two kinds, one of greater va- 
lue than the other ; this salt i5 used in fixing the red dyes of 
cloths. Puppree is uf^d in the manufacture of bangles, in the 
baking of a cake called 'papu^— and by the native hukeems as an 
anti-acid in dyspepsi^ There is also an inferior description of 
puppree. Bhooskee is a white saline salt, left as a deposit on the 
margin of the lake, and is principally used in the manufacture of 
soap. Madkhar is an inferior kind of bhooskee, used by Dhobies 
in bleaching clothes. The purest salt is found close to the saline 
springs, and the other salts in their order, as entered above, are 
found on receding from that point towards the margin of the lake. 
The salt is raised by divers who proceed towards the centre 
of the lake, in canoes (recently introduced by 
^ porteTanl'sold Johnstonf) formed of single pieces of 
light wood, from 14 to 16 feet long and 2J 
broad. The divers remain under water several seconds, and come 
up with their hands full of salt. When the lake was very shallow in 
1836, the salt was scooped up by the iron pans or towas, on which 
natives bake their bread — no dredging instruments are used. The 
process of raising the salt is rude, tedious and insufficient. The 
salt thus raised is much prized, and finds a ready sale in both 
Berars, in Nagpore, Candeish and Poonah. It is purchased at the 
* There are two manufactories near the lake. When these are in full operation, 
bangles are manufactured in large quantities, each man being able to manufacture 
from 6 to 700 daily. The eye-siKht of these men fails soon, owing to the entire 
want of protection from the glare of the glass furnaces. Crystallized Quartz is abun- 
dant. 
t For much of my infoYmation, I am indebted to the kindQesi of Major John- 
ston, Deputy Commissioacr of Southern Berar. 
