oct. — dec. 1857.] Oils of Southern India. 



25 



communis has obtained the above name from the fact of its beino- 



o 



used almost solely for burning in the commonest lamps and for 

 feeding torches. 



For this purpose the seeds are sometimes partially roasted to 

 coagulate the albumen and liquify the oil, and then pressed in the 

 ordinary mill, or boiled with water, or the roasting process is omit- 

 ted ; in either case the coloring matter of the husks of the seed and 

 other impurities gives the oil a dark color, and if the roasting pro- 

 cess is carried too far, a slightly empyreumatic odour is communi- 

 cated. 



By carefully shelling the seed and rejecting all impurities, the 

 Natives prepare a clear oil for medicinal purposes (by boiling) near- 

 ly equal to that extracted from the small seeded variety. 



The price of this oil varies in different parts of the country from 

 Rupees 1-10-0 to Rupees 3-13-6 per maund of 25 lbs. The aver- 

 age of nineteen large stations in all parts of the Presidency for the 

 Quarter ending 31st October 1854, was Rupees 2-8-6 per maund. 



It is chiefly used for burning in lamps, and from its viscidity and 

 drying qualities only in those of the simplest description. 



The average export of this oil for the last 6 years has been 

 97,561 Gallons per annum. 



Lamp oil made into a kind of palmine by agitation with nitrie acid, 

 is largely used as a lubricating agent for Railway locomotives in 

 India. 



No. 5. Castor oil. (Ricinus communis, fructibus minoribus.) 



The small seeded variety of the Ricinus communis is supposed" 

 to yield the best product, and is therefore universally employed in 

 preparing the oil exported to Europe for medicinal purposes. 



The fresh seeds after having been sifted a,nd cleaned from dust, 

 stones, and all extraneous matters, are slightly crushed between 

 two rollers, freed by hand from husks and colored grains, and en- 

 closed in squares of clean gunny or canvass. The packets of seed 

 then receive a slight pressure in an oblong mould which gives an 

 uniform shape and density to them. The " bricks'' as they are 



