258 Proceedings of Societies : [Jan. 



dies, each bundle containing from 400 to 450 stalks, produces from 12 

 to 16-lbs. of fibre, which, in January and February 1826, sold at the 

 rate of 12-Ibs. for two shillings. During the rains, the farmer and his 

 family make their own twine, which they weave into pieces of very 

 coarse canvass, called gohnpaat, from thirty to forty feet long, and 

 ten inches wide. These are made into canvass bags, called gohnees, 

 for the conveyance of grain on the backs of bullocks ; into coverings 

 for the saddles of camels ; into large sheets, in which the baggage 

 is tied upon the backs of elephants and camels; into pack-saddles, 

 &c. &c. All the wi-iting paper in common use in Dekhan, is manufac- 

 tured from old and worn-out grain-bags, and other articles made from 

 the fibres of Taag. 



In a Bombay Price Current, of January 28, 1837, Gujerat hemp is 

 stated at 68 rupees the candy of 784-lbs. or 51-lbs. for a shilling. 



Cocoa-nut oil being now imported into England, in considerable 

 quantities, I shall only express my opinion, that its present retail price, 

 of 4s. 6d. per gallon, weighing 9-lbs., must give an enormous profit, as 

 the cost-price, at Bombay, on the 28th of January, 1837, was is. 9d. for 

 18-lbs. avoirdupois; and in Ceylon it is much less. In fact, the pre- 

 sent charge upon the cost-price, is 312 per cent. I must express my 

 regret also, that it is not more generally used in England ; for, instead 

 of the detestable smell of fish-oil, it has rather an agreeable odour ; and 

 it is readily consumed in open glass vessels, with floating, or standing 

 wicks, whatever the temperature of the air may be. 



At a future period, I shall be happy, if it be desirable, to give an ac- 

 count of the plants producing aromatic seeds, which are generally cul- 

 tivated in Dekhan, and the seeds are very cheap. Also an account of 

 the plants used in dyeing, tanning, wild cordage and oil plants, &c. 



I have purposely excluded from the above accounts all systematic 

 details respecting the cultivation, time of flowering, returns, &c., of the 

 various plants ; believing that such details could not be of any interest 

 to the merchant or manufacturer in Great Britain. If it were desirable, 

 I could furnish the medicinal properties of the plants, according to the 

 Hindoos. 



The first name of each plant is in the Mahratta language, the second 

 name in Sanscrit, the third in Hindostanee, and the fourth is the 

 botanical name. 



The standard measure of capacity in the Dekhan is called an adho- 

 lee, of 2seers. Of small grained rice it contains 4-lbs. 12 oz. 7 dwts. 

 22i grains, avoirdupois weight. It contains a weight of water, at a 

 temperature of 75' Fahr., of 5-lbs. 3 oz. 3 dwts. 5| grains, or 144.4 



