Miscellaneous. 



153 



rectified oil is collected in a receiver. The only expense attending 

 the production of these articles is the fuel ; but if the distillation 

 were performed in the retired places, where the pine forests are 

 so abundant, this would cost but little ; so that there is every reason 

 to suppose rosin and turpentine might be produced in India 

 under as many advantages as in America, or elsewhere. They 

 are both articles of common use in the arts, as well as in medicine. 

 It is therefore satisfactory to know that they may be furnished 

 extensively for local consumption, if not as articles of export. Pine 

 forests cover the central ridges of the Kasy ah mountains, particularly 

 the northern declivities. Extensive tracts of Kemaon are likewise 

 covered with forests of Pines. In these situations the trees are 

 useless for their timber, but might be rendered productive in the 

 way we have here pointed out. — Ed. 



Mineral Indigo. 



We received a letter from Major Jenkins the Commissioner of 

 Assam a short time since, enclosing from Mr. Landers, one of his 

 Assistants, a specimen of <f Blue Earth" found on the banks of 

 the Deko Nuddie, a little above Nagura. The earth consists of 

 deep blue coloured, perfectly fine, and impalpable powder, which 

 gives a blue colour to water and oils with which it is mixed, 

 but the colouring matter appears to be insoluable, and is dissipated 

 and entirely destroyed at a red heat, and protoxide of iron is 

 precipitated from the ashes by hydro -sulphurate of ammonia. It 

 therefore appears to be an earthy substance containing protoxide 

 of iron and vegetable colouring matter. Major Jenkins states that 

 he has written for further information on the subject, requesting 

 to be supplied with large samples, and to be informed if it is pro- 

 curable in large quantity ; as in that case, Major Jenkins suggests 

 it might be used as a paint, if good for nothing else. 



In descending the Dhunsiri Major Jenkins himself saw boulders 

 of black clay, which on being broken, proved to consist internally 

 of layers of decayed leaves, which when separated afforded traces 

 of the same kind of coloured earth. — Ed. 



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