oct. — dec. 1856.] The Natron Lake of Loonar. 3 



of 50 per cent of the neutral carbonate, being found close to the 

 saline springs themselves— whence it is raised by diving. The 

 depth of the lake near the springs, varies from 5 or 6 feet in the 

 hot months, to 12 or 14 during the rains. 



There are six principal varieties of salt to which the natives 

 give the following names: — 1 dulla, 2 nim- 



Description of Salt. 



uck dulla, 3 khuppul, 4 puppree, 5 bhoos- 

 kee and 6 madkhar. Dulla and nimuck dulla are used for dyeing 

 silks, fixing colors, and as medicine, and in the manufacture of 

 bangles.* Of khuppul, there are two kinds, one of greater va- 

 lue than the other ; this salt is used in fixing the red dyes of 

 cloths. Puppree is used in the manufacture of bangles, in the 

 baking of a cake called papur— and by the native hukeems as an 

 anti-acid in dyspepsia. There is also an inferior description of 

 puppree. Bhooskee is a white saline salt, left as a deposit on the 

 margin of the lake, and is principally used in the manufacture of 

 soap. Madkhar is an inferior kind of bhooskee, used by Dhobies 

 in bleaching clothes. The purest salt is found close to the saline 

 springs, and the other salts in their order, as entered above, are 

 found on receding from that point towards the margin of the lake. 



The salt is raised by divers who proceed towards the centre 

 of the lake, in canoes (recently introduced by 



S porteTan a d sold'* 118 " Ma j or Jonnston t) formed of single pieces of 

 light wood, from 14 to 16 feet long and 2j 

 broad. The divers remain under water several seconds, and come 

 up with their hands full of salt. When the lake was very shallow in 

 1836, the. salt was scooped up by the iron pans or towas, on which 

 natives bake their bread — no dredging instruments are used. The 

 process of raising the salt is rude, tedious and insufficient. The 

 salt thus raised is much prized, and finds a ready sale in both 

 Berars, in Nagpore, Candeish and Poonah. It is purchased at the 



* There are two manufactories near the lake. When these are in full operation, 

 hangles are manufactured in large quantities, each man being 1 able to manufacture 

 from 6 to 700 daily. The eye-sight of these men fails soon, owing to the entire 

 want of protection from the glare of the glass furnaces. Crystallized Quartz is abun- 

 dant. 



f For much of my information, I am indebted to the kindness of Major John- 

 ston, Deputy Commissioner of Southern Berar. 



