508 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[China. 



TURMERIC. — A small root, of the Curcuma Lovga (Huldi, Hind. 

 Haridariy San.) of an oblong form, usually met with in pieces of from half 

 an inch, to an inch or two In length, and about an inch in circumference. 

 Its surface is uneven and knotty, and the longer pieces are seldom straight. 

 It is not easily cut through with a knife; heavy, hard to hreak, and of a 

 glossy smooth surface when it is cut through. Its external colour is a 

 whitish pale grey, with a faint yellowish tinge ; internally, when broken, it 

 is a fine bright, pale, unmixed yellow, when the root is fresh ; by keeping, 

 it becomes reddish, and at length is much like safTron in the cake. It speedily 

 gives a fine yellow tinge to water, and the same colour to the spittle when 

 chewed. It is easily powdered in the mortar; and according to its age, 

 makes either a yellow, an orange coloured, or a reddish powder. It has a kind 

 of aromatic ginger-like smell, and a warm, bitterish, disagreeable taste. 

 Turmeric should be fresh, thick, heavy ,and hard to be broken. This root is 

 produced in China and Bengal ; but the former is most valuable. Casks or 

 cases are preferable to bags for packing, as the least damp depreciates its 

 value. The ton, for freight, is 16 Cwt 



Turuuoise, commonly called Turkey stone, is hard, opaque, and of a 

 beautiful pale blue colour ; it is of two kinds, the oriental and the occidental: 

 they are found in the East Indies, Persia^ and Germany. In Persia it 

 adheres to blackish stones, and is very common, but it seldom exceeds the 

 size of a hazel-nut. Those of the East Indies differ in their colour ; for 

 such as are said to be of the old rock, always preserve the same colour ; but 

 those of the new rock are greener. This stone is in so much esteem amongst 

 the Turks, that those of the superior ranks are seldom without one. It is 

 generally valued in proportion to the brightness of the colour. Those that 

 are of the size of a hazel-nut, are of a fine sky blue without any blackish 

 veins, but the lesser sort are not so good ; those that have blackish veins, 

 or are inclinable to greenish, or to the colour of milk, are of little value. 



Tutenague is a white metallic compound, somewhat like tin ; the best 

 is hard, compact, and heavy, very sonorous when struck, and pure and 

 brilliant when broken. It is an article of considerable trade from China to 

 various parts of India, in manufactured articles, and in blocks. Tutenague 

 should be chosen of a blueish white colour, considerably brighter than the 

 best lead, of a close grain, and free from dross and impurities. 



20 Cwt. of tutenague are reckoned to a ton. 



Varnish is prepared from a tree that grows plentifully in Japan and 

 China. It is procured by wounding the stems of the trees when three years 

 old. When first taken, it is of a lightish colour, and of the consistence of 

 cream, but grows thicker and blacker on being exposed to the air. It is of 



