Royal Asiatic Society. 



255 



therefore, that a reduction of fifty per cent, in its price, which, I am 

 confident might be effected by good roads, would at least double the 

 quantity consumed, and that instead of the trade in it being limited to 

 200,000 bullock loads, it would soon exceed twice that amount. 



Nor is it in cotton and salt alone that an improvement of this kind 

 would take place. Every description of raw and bulky produce, such 

 as wool, hemp, linseed, and dye stuffs, suffers in an equal degree by 

 the present state of things ; the effect of which in many cases, may 

 be estimated as doubling and trebling their price, between the place 

 of cultivation and the sea coast, where a large market for them alone 

 exists. Great, therefore, as the field unquestionably is for improve- 

 ment in India in the mode of cultivating and preparing its products for 

 market, and beneficial as the introduction of new articles of produce, 

 suited to the wants of Europe, as well as to those of the native popula- 

 tion, would be, I cannot but think that the simplest, surest, and most 

 important step towards bettering the condition of the people, and in- 

 creasing the resources of the country, will be facilitating the means of 

 internal traffic. G. A. 



London, May 25th, 3837. 



Account of the cultivated Oil and Cordage Plants of Deldian, hy 

 Colonel Sykes, F. R. S.* 



June 16, 1<S37.— Kurdee, Kurtuh, Koosoom ; Carthamus persicus, 

 blowers not used as a dye, sown with shaloo {Andropogon sorghum) 

 in the proportions of I to 8, returns 53 for I ; ripe the end of March, 

 JThe seeds produce an edible oil, which is esteemed when fresh j 

 it is in use also as a lamp-oil. Forty-eight seers of seed produce 

 seven and a half seers of oil, or more than 15 per cent, weight 

 against bulk. The price of the seed in the Serroor market, in Au- 

 gust 1825, was 20 seers bulk for two shillings ; but this was 

 dear. Price of the oil at the same time 3| seers, or about 7-lbs. 

 avoirdupois, for two shillings ; the same name of Koosomb to both 

 i&p€cies. In times of scarcity, the seeds are eaten whole as food, also 

 the leaves as greens. The oil-cake is highly nourishing to milch cat- 

 ^e. Price, 80 seers, or about 160-lbs. avoirdupois, per two shillings. 



This article is not in any Commercial Price Current. 



Juwus, Atahsi, Teesee ; Linum usitatissimum. Flax, cultivated only 

 for its oil, used in lamps. The return about 20 for 1. In a stone-mill, 

 4 seers measure of seed produce one of oil. Price of the seed in Poona, 



* Colonel Sykes' mode of spelling Oriental words is adhered to in this paper.— Ed. 



