Bombay.] ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 153 



other resembles the Sunn of Bengal, and is much esteemed for its strength 

 and durability, being preferable to that of Bengal for cotton rojies, where 

 very great strength is necessary ; it is the best substitute for hemp yet 

 known ; and could the cultivator be ensured a certain price, and a ready 

 market for the commodity, very large quantities would be produced. It has 

 been imported both by the East India Company and individuals ; but the 

 heavy freight it is subject to, has prevented its being a profitable remittance. 

 The purer and cleaner it is when packed, the more it is esteemed. The 

 tonnage is calculated at 50 cubical feet to a ton. 



Lignum Colibrincm, snake wood, or snake root, is the woody part 

 of the tree (Shychnos) which produces Nux Vomica. It is of a heavy close 

 substance, covered with an iron coloured bark, of a yellow colour internally 

 with whitish streaks. In rasping or scraping, this wood emits a faint, but 

 not disagreeable smell ; when chewed for some time, it discovers a very- 

 bitter taste. It should be chosen in ponderous sound pieces, about a foot 

 and a half long, free from worms and dust. 



Manooes, the fruit of the Mangifera Indica, which, when fully ripe, 

 is yellowish or reddish, replete with a fine agreeable juice, having a large 

 stone ; it cuts like an apple, but is more juicy. Mangoes are sent to Europe 

 as a pickle, and are prepared in the following manner : — when nearly ripe, 

 they are cut in two, the kernel taken out, and the vacant space filled with 

 chillies, garlic, ginger, kc. after which they are put in vinegar, and sent 

 as presents to Europe and elsewhere. They should be chosen of a bright 

 yellow colour, firm and fleshy, free from fibres, and of an agreeable smell ; 

 and care should be taken to fill the cask full of pickle, or they will be 

 apt to spoil on the voyage. 



Mode of forwarding Mangoe Plants to Europe. — The readiest method 

 of obtaining the plants in Europe is to set a quantity of the nuts in 

 a tub of earth, and wheu the plants are grown a foot high, to ship them, 

 placing a covering to protect them from the spray of the sea, being very 

 careful not to water them too much on the passage. When the ship ar- 

 rives in a cold climate, they should be screened from the cold. 



Manna (Shirkhiat, Hind, and Ters. Terenjabin, Arab.) is a gummy 

 substance procured in Italy from a species of ash, Fraxinus omits. The 

 manna met with in India, which is never imported into England, is of a 

 very inferior sort, mixed with leaves, sand, &c, and brought from Persia 

 by way of Bussorah. It is supposed to be obtained from the Hedysarum 

 Athagi 



Nux Vomica is the produce of the Strychnos Nu v Vomica, ( Cuchila, 



