302 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [November i, 1888. 
OTJTCH : ITS MANUFACTURE AND TEADE. 
One of the most important articles of produce after 
rice, exported from Burmah to Europe, is cutch. The 
trade in this commodity has been steadily increasing 
during the last twemty years ; and though in 1885-86, 
there was a sudden decrease in the exportation owing 
to the troubles arising from the annexation of Upper 
Burma, nevertheless the trade has to-day regained its 
former activity, and last season's supply was equal 
to, if not greater than, that of late years. As soon as 
aitairs settle down more peaceably throughout the 
country, road communications have been opened out, 
and proper facilities given to the Burmese to work 
the cutch trees, which abound in the forest tracts of 
Burmah, there is not the least doubt but that this 
industry will assume greater dimensions. The cutch sent 
to the markets will also be of a better quality and far 
superior to tLe lot of adulterated and inferior stuff 
wnich now fiudj buyers amongst our merchants and 
gives rise to the very serious complaints made by 
brokers iu Europe and America. The cutch tree (.4 ca- 
cia Catechu) is found in large forests throughout the 
whole of Burma. ' The core or heart of the tree is a 
dark-red wood, like in appearance to mahogany; this 
wood is chipped, boiled and the extract is what we term 
cutch — Burmese Tha ; in other words, according to 
Dr Mason, it is the inspissated extract obtained by 
boiling chips of the wood. This industry is generally 
crned on by inhabitants of villages situated on the 
skirts of fo est*, as also by those able-bodied Burmese 
not given to Agricultural pursuits, or who, not being 
rich enough to possess a couple of bullocks or buffaloes 
are unable to till their lands. The only requisites needed 
are a pair of strong and willing arms, a dah and a 
cooking or boiling pan. In the month of October, when 
the rains have ceased the cutch-boilers make their 
arrangements. Those who do not live in the vicinity 
of the trets, and who comes from a distance for this 
special work, form into companies of threes and sixes 
and so on ; whilst whole families living in the neigh- 
borhood, devote themselves to the manufacture of this 
article. Oertaiu spots are selected, where a choice 
of good robust trees may be had. Small pits are made 
and so formed that the pans can remam in a fixed 
position, so as to avoid any tilting when charged 
with the manufactured material. The labor of felling 
the trees now begins ; of lopping the branches, of 
stripping the bark and cutting the outer wood, until 
the core is reached. The younger members of the family 
have now their task, viz., of chipping the dark-red 
pieces of wood remaining. When a large quantity of 
these chips have been collected, the boiling process is 
taken in riand. One Burman superintends three pans 
into which, partly filled witti water, the chips are 
put. The fires are now lighted and cooking proceeds. 
The Burman, who has this part of the work in hand, 
is generally well up to the business and is careful that 
the boiling mass does not get overheated or burnt. 
When of the desired consistency or thickness, the eap 
or cutch being drawn by the heat from the chips, the 
cont. nts of the pans are spread out on mats for 
evaporation ; care being taken that the dregs or woody 
refuse be discarded. These mats are laid out in a 
cool shady and dry place, where the cool breeze can 
play upon the liquid mass. The evaporation goes on 
gradually, and in a short time the workmen are enabled 
to manipulate the cutch and fashion it into blocks, 
which moasure about 12" x 1" x 5". This is the size 
Of good pure cutch offered in the market; but there is 
no naid and fast rule in this respect. The block gene- 
rally weighs trom 4 to C viss; the color red, dark-red 
and black; these shades depend principally on the 
quality of the chips used, whether of a young and 
robust or one of many years growth; or to the duration 
ot the time taken in boiling. The light red and red 
cutch is considered of the best quality and is made 
into small tablets ; more care and attention is paid to 
this quality and is taken up principally for local 
Consumption, as it, with betel-nut, chuimm and the 
pan leaf, constitutes the Burmese chewing quid. It is 
exported also in small quantities for the same eating 
purposes to India. Tho daik-red and black aro the 
varieties prepared largely lor the markets of Europe 
and America, and it is with these qualities our mer- 
chants of Rangoon have principally to do. A block 
of pure, unadulterated cutch presents as a wile, the 
following characteristics. If the block las been allowed 
sufficient time for evaporation and to harden it will have 
a uniform appearance, probably cracked on the sides ; 
dimensions the same us already given ; weight from four 
to six viss; taste bitter, acrid or pungent ; smell something 
like that of opium, and, if it is thoroughly dry, the 
block can be easily broken, with a tendency to crumble, 
and, on the other hand, if there is still moistuie in 
the centre, there \,iil be a flaky appearance. The 
more it approaches the light-red color, the better 
quality it is. If therefore the cutch to be sold should 
show to any perceptible extent a failing off in any of 
the particulars enumerated above, it- m.ty be safely 
put down as of an iufenor kind and adulterated. Of 
course large quantities are brought to the marke. in 
a soft condition owing to the eagerness and hurry the 
cutch-boilers have in their desire to be early in the 
maiket when prices are ruling high. When the com- 
modity arrives in this condition, the test consists in the 
smell and bitler taste.- It will be understood, the more 
liquified it is the greater will be the loss in weight 
when it dries up or by the time it reaches the Lome 
markets. In former years merchants were pretty 
safe in the purchase of the genuine articles as the 
quality known as Mindoon pure Cutch was invariably 
manufactured ; but of late years, owing to the bteady 
demand, keen competition and enhanced prices, a 
greater stimulus has been given to the ttade and un- 
fortunately greater liberties taken by cutch-boilers 
in mixing and adulterating. Than alia, a spurious kind 
of cutch is used for this purpose. Some eight years 
ago, it first became known to the trade; its v<Jue at 
that time, was about R8 to RIO per 101) viss, but the 
sale was slow ; now a greater demand has sprung up, 
and the quotation last season for this spurious article 
was R25 per 100 viss. 
There are also several other varieties of inferior stuff 
manufactured ; some designedly, as by the mixture of 
fibrous matter, sand or earth; some, through over- 
heating, the quality of the wood, or carelessness on" 
the part of the cutch-boilers. These are called, aat-sha, 
Nay-Ian sha, Teven-loun sha, Fet tok sha, etc. 
A little experience will soou familiarize the Euro- 
pean buyer with these deceptive sorts, if he keeps 
in mind the general particulars given for pure un- 
adulterated cutch. Those that are mixed with sand 
or earth for the purpose of increasing the weight, 
may be detected by the heaviness of the pieces or 
by the grittiness of the stuff when placed between 
the teeth. We would recommend merchants who do 
largely in this business, to insist on their European 
assistants, acquiring a good practical knowledge of 
the article. A careful examination of the different 
lots which in season are daily offered for sale, will- 
afford many opportunities to these assistants of spot- 
ting, so to speak, the good from the bail. If assisted 
at the onset by some experienced Burman and by 
the aid of the ordinary testing rod, there is no 
reason why in a few weeks' time they should not 
become fair judges of the quality they are buying. 
Again, if feasible, purchases should be made by sam- 
ple. It happens too frequently that, owing to keen 
competition, Chinamen will insist on your taking the 
whole parcel as it is brought in the wagons, or as 
it lies in the godowus, without choice or selection, 
and that at prices which should be for the best 
quality only. 
The Chinamen take good care when buying for 
themselves direct from the Burmese traders to classify 
the cutch as it arrives in carts or boats from the 
interior, and to pay according to their classification. 
For example, if tho rate for good hard cutch is 
J{37 per 100 viss, tbey' will give for good soft 
E25 to 30, for Sat Sha, or (mixed kinds 18 to 25; 
for inferior stuff, viz. that mixed with eai th or solid 
8 to 12 per 100 viss. In almost every cart or boat 
some pieces answering to the iulerior description 
will be found, aud when a parcel is made up and 
sent down to Rangoon, the good, bad and indifferent 
are sold in one lot and at one uniform price, if 
