48 



Oils of Southern India, [no. 5, new series, 



SECTION IV. 



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1 Remarks on the economical uses oe Oils in India. 



The value of the commercial oils of India, being already so 

 generally known to Merchants and Manufacturers, both at home 

 and in this country, any remarks on this head would be superflu- 

 ous ; it remains, however, to consider in what ways, we may become 

 the consumers as well as the exporters of oils. 



I would more particularly refer to their uses in the raw state for 

 currying leather and making buff, for burning in lamps, for lubri- 

 cating machinery, for anointing the person, and as an article of 

 food, — to their value in a somewhat modified form, as a vehicle for 

 paints, and varnishes, — and lastly to their employment in the ma- 

 nufacture of candles and soap. 



Oil — as used for currying and buffing leather. — Experience has 

 shown that the kinds of oil most suited for the preparation of 

 leather, are those derived from the animal kingdom. Of these, fish 

 oil, neats foot oil, and the solid fats of oxen, sheep and pigs, are 

 those most generally used. Some one of these, or a mixture of se- 

 veral of them as the case may be, is rubbed over the underside of 

 the tanned skin whilst still wet. The leather being then hung up 

 in an airy loft to dry, the evaporation of the moisture enables the 

 composition to penetrate through the substance of the hide until 

 it appears on the surface or grain side. The beef, mutton and pigs 

 fat used in this prooess are procurable with difficulty and at high 

 prices. 



At present, but little leather is curried in India, and the de- 

 mand for these substances is consequently limited, but should this 

 branch of trade rise into importance (of which there can be no 

 » reasonable doubt,) and should hides be tanned and finished on the 



spot, instead of being sent to Europe in the raw state, and re-im- 

 ported when dressed, the supply of these substances will become of 

 greater moment, and it will be a question for the practical manu- 

 facturer to decide, whether it is more to his interest to pay the cur- 

 rent Indian prices, or to import his materials direct from Australia. 



Fish oil, however, is procurable in abundance at reasonable prices, 



