Calcutta*] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 30? 



The quantity of sugar exported by sea from Calcutta by private 

 traders, during the above years, was as follows : — 



TO ENGLAND. TO OTHER PARTS. 



1817 Cwts. 129,858 199,288 



1818 - 129,195 254,930 



1819 157,957 ™. 258,746 



1820 134,613 146,234 



1621 112,830 132,137 



Sugar-Candy. — A very superior sort is manufactured at Bengal, in 

 small masses of from 3 to 6 lbs. each. Large quantities of this article are 

 consume J in India ; but the principal part of the supply is imported from 

 China in tubs, made of thin deal, each containing half a pecul, or 6*6 T lbs. 

 avoirdupois. The best kind of sugar-candy is manufactured at Cochin 

 China ; it is in fine, clear, and transparent crystals. 



20 Cwt, of sugar-candy are allowed to a ton. 



Talc, a species of fossil, of a soft smooth surface, of a whitish or silver- 

 like lustre, which may be split into numerous fine plates, or leaves, which 

 singly prove somewhat flexible and elastic, and perfectly pellucid. It is 

 found in many parts of India and China, and used instead of glass. In 

 Bengal a seer of talc will sometimes yield a dozen panes, 12 inches by 9, or 

 10 by 10, according to the form of the lump, and so far clear as to allow 

 ordinary objects to be seen at 20 or 30 yards* distance. It should be chosen 

 of a pure pearl colour; but it has in general either a yellowish or faint blue 

 cast ; and when split into leaves, it should present a smooth surface, though 

 frequently it has small scaly blisters, which depreciate its value. It is sel- 

 dom imported into Europe. 



Tamarinds are the fruit of the Tamarindm Indica, (Amli, Hind. 

 Amlica, San.), a tree common in the East and West Indies. The fruit is a 

 pod, somewhat resembling a bean cod, including several hard seeds, together 

 with a dark coloured viscid pulp ; this pulp is connected with the seeds by 

 numerous tough strings or fibres, and these are freed from the outer shell. 

 The oriental sort is drier, darker coloured, und has more pulp than the 

 other ; the former is sometimes preserved without addition, but the latter 

 has always an admixture of sugar. Red, brown, and black are brought 

 from the East Indies ; of these the black is preferred. Chuse such as are 

 new, black, pulpy, of a sharpish grateful taste, and vinous smell. Reject 

 such as arc musty, and have the seeds soft and swoln. 20 Cwt. are 

 allowed to a ton. 



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