oct. — dec. 1857.] Oils of Southern India. 



49 



indeed, the Indian article has entirely superseded the use of English 

 oil, which, until the establishment of this manufacture on the Western 

 coast, was imported at a high price for the use of the Government 

 Buffing establishment at Hoonsoor. 



A comparison of the price of the Indian and English article is 

 shown below, and as regards quality, it has been found that the Na- 

 tive oil, if made with care, is fully equal to the English product. 



Cost of English oil per gallon Us. 2 4 0 



Cost of Malabar oil per gallon Rs. 110 0 



The saving thus effected in this one article alone, in this large 

 establishment, is very great. 



OH — U sed for burning in lanips.— Almost all the oils procur- 

 able in India, are burned to a greater or less extent by the native 

 population in the rude contrivances which serve as lamps. For 

 the finer description of European lamps, however, only the fluid 

 non-drying oils should be used. Of these Cocoanut, Ground nut, 

 Coorookoo, Kurunj, and a few others are to be preferred. The first 

 is decidedly the best, but in cold climates, it requires to be mixed 

 with a due proportion of some other oil to prevent its tendency to 

 congeal at low temperatures. Drying oils, such as Castor, Lamp, 

 and Linseed oil are unsuitable for these lamps, as the oil becoming 

 viscid, clogs the tubes ; they may, however, in common with many 

 other sorts of oil, be burned with advantage in open vessels or nighi 

 lamps. Some of them emit much smoke. 



In the preparation of these oils for burning in lamps, much im- 

 provement might be effected. Excepting Cocoanut, the generality 

 of oils as sold in the market, are contaminated with mucilage and 

 extraneous substances, which much impair their burning qualities. 



The usual mode of purifying oil, is to add to 100 parts of oil one 

 part of Sulphuric acid, and agitate the mixture ; the acid immediately 

 attacks and chars the slimy parts of the oil. In half an hour add 

 50 parts of water with agitation, and allow the whole to settle for 

 some days. Decant the clear oil, and wash with water to get rid 

 of the acid. The same object may be effected in a less degree by 

 keeping the oil for some time in a quiet place, this improves it by 



