292 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Cahmtta. 



should appear in diamond-like points. That which is yellow or brown, 

 should be rejected. 



II. Seed-Lac is the former kind when separated from the twigs, and 

 reduced into small pieces. This is seldom imported, it being manufactured 

 into shell-lac in India. 



III. Lump-Lac is in cakes, and formed from seed-lac liquified by fire. 

 This is consumed in India in making ornamental bangles for the women's 

 arms, and for other uses in a common way, for which the best shell Jac is 

 used in the superior sorts. 



IV. Shell-Lac is prepared from the cells liquified, strained, and 

 formed into thin transparent sheets. Transparent, or amber coloured shell- 

 lac is best, and which, on breaking a piece from the edge, appears of an 

 amber colour : avoid the very thick, dark, or speckled. There is a kind 

 very thin, which looks fine, but is really the black sort, run thin to deceive ; 

 the deceit will be discovered by breaking a piece, and observing if the edge 

 is an amber colour ; for if it is dark brown, it will not do. W hen laid on a 

 hot iron, shell-lac, if pure, will instantly catch fire, and burn away with a 

 strong, but not disagreeable smell. That which is specky, drossy, black, 

 liver-coloured, dull, or cloudy should be rejected. The principal uses of 

 this article are for varnishes and sealing-wax. The beat of the ship's hold 

 is very apt to run this commodity into a solid mass, in which case, though it 

 was originally of the best kind, its value is much depreciated. 



Lac-Lake.— This article is imported from Bengal in small square 

 cakes, similar in form to those of indigo ; it should, when broken, look dark- 

 coloured, shining, smooth, and compact; when scraped or powdered, it 

 should be of a bright red colour, approaching to that of carmine. That 

 which is sandy, lighUcoloured, and spongy, and which, when scraped, is of a 

 dull brick-dust colour, should be rejected. Lac -lake is used instead of 

 cochineal in dying. 



Lac-Dve is a similar article to the preceding, but of superior quality. 

 The importations of both have in former years been excessive, so as per- 

 manently to glut the market. 



The quantities of the lacs allowed to a ton in freight are as follow 

 Stick-lac, shell-lac, and lac-lake, 16 Cwt. ; seed-lac, 18 Cwt. 



Loxg PerpER is met with in various parts of India. It is the fruit of 

 the Piper Longum (Pipel, Hind. Pippali, San.), and about an inch in 

 length, of a cylindrical figure, the thickness of a large goose quill ; the 

 colour a brownish grey. It is used as a condiment in culinary preparations, 

 and also in medicine. 



