526 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Feb. 1, 1901. 
IVORY CARVING IN ASSAM. 
Mr. James Donald, I.C.S., Assistant Commis- 
sioner, Golagliat, in the course of an interesting 
monograph on this subject says : — Once an im- 
portant art in tlie days of the Ahom rajas, ivory 
carving has since Assam came under British 
rule gradually declined. In those past times 
industry throve, the workers patronised by the 
rajas and leading men of the court reserved, as 
a return for their work, free grants of land and 
labour. In consideration for these privileges, a 
special class of workers known as Khanikars 
worked solely for the rajas. This would seem to 
indicate that the work in those days was mucli 
valued. 
In 1891, the census showed four ivory carvers 
in the whole of Assam, three in Kararup, one in 
Sibsagar, while the Deputy Commissioner of Syl- 
het now states—" Ivory carving is a practically ex- 
tinct art now in Sylhet." 
Bringing the information up to date we might 
safely say that there is but one man in the whole 
of Assam whose occupation can be described as 
" Ivory carver," Fiznur, Mussalman, of Jorhat. 
From an important flourishing and honouiable 
industry, it has, in the space of 70 to 80 years, been 
reduced to the work of one man, and that spasmodic. 
But there are others who, wliile dependent for 
their living on other occupations, still possess a 
knowledge of the art. In the case of all, how- 
ever, the work is spasmodic, and entirely depen- 
dent on occasional orders received— generally 
from Europeans — which orders they do not 
always take the trouble to execute. The ivory 
carver in Sylhet (his principal occupation is that 
of "goldsmith") whose speciality is fans, has re- 
ceived but one order for fans during the last ten 
years. No other order has he received either from 
jKuropeans or Natives. And the others are in a 
similar position, although in the case of one or 
two more frequent demands have been made for 
their work. 
The number of persons in Assam, who are ac- 
quainted with ivory carving, may be roughly put 
down at fifty. Of these about forty depend for 
their living on agriculture, while the others have 
laecome carpenters or brass- workers. 
The nature of the articies turned out depends on 
the demand. Practically the whole of the work 
done is the result of special orders, and generally 
any article ordered can be executed, The repre- 
sentative of the industry in Sylhet makijs a specia- 
lity of fans, while the Jorhat worker' has a pre- 
ierence for salad spoons and forks and back- 
scratchers. Tlie latter carver, however, confines 
himself slavishly to these three articles 
and will not execute orders for other 
than these. Small boxes, paper knives> 
dice, chessmen, combs, handles for knives, um- 
brellas, &c., bracelets, rings, and models of ani- 
mals represent the general nature of the work. 
In these articles there is generally some ornamen- 
tation. Figures of animals as elephants and 
fish, and drawings of creepers and liowers, are 
common objects of ornamentation. Rubies and 
emeralds of a cheap nature adorn many articles 
as spoons, forks and bracelets and are used for 
eyes in the case of animals. Silver and gold, 
and brass, too are occasionally employed. In 
Fiznur's case tliere is little or no variety in the 
ornamentation. 
Ivory carving once flourished because nurtured 
^pd, as I have pointed out, because not altogether 
an optional industry. It decayed wben both these 
influerices ceased. It has now reached the point 
of extinction, not so mHcli because there is no 
demand, but rather because the workers, from 
want of energy or material, have so hidden their 
talents, that but few know of their existence. — 
Pioneer, Dec. 12. 
PLANTING IN PERU: 
COFFEE AND OTHER PRODUCTS. 
{From a Planting Correspondent.) 
Oct. 27th, 1900. 
We are fully 4,000 feet above sea level, with a 
perfect climate ; neither wind nor great droughts to 
contend against. The roads are pretty good and 
are imi.roving and a railway is expected to 
be laid soon to come within a short distance 
of this valley. To the European markets 
we have very low freights, and as Peruvian 
coffee has taken second place in name, and first 
price in the German markets, and first placeand 
first price in London, namely, an average of 70s. 
per quintal (100 to 112 lb.) this gives general 
satisfaction. Also by this mail came from 
the Paris Exhibition— 2 awards of gold medals 
to the Haciends, La Perla and St. Olaya, 
on either side of this one. These are now in 
their sixth year, giving full crops of 1,000 
quintals. This estate is in its third year, and 
great expectations may be realized if the weather 
keeps favourable, such as we now are enjoying. 
There are many questions I would like to ask, but 
especially these two :— "Have you seen the results 
of the tiial of Jadoo fibre, and is it such a marvel- 
lous factor ? I would like to see a Company formed 
to take up land just here, or alotgside of the 
Peruvian Corporation. Their land is a day's 
journey farther inland. It would open up this 
couatry, as lubour is cheap and sufficient, and 
the Indians and Cholos are strong, healthy and 
active, and very peaceable, and with the courtesy of 
the Spaniard. Their daily pay is 50 and 60 centa- 
vos; all, or nearly all, are contracted by regular 
contractists (engauched) whose commission is 10c 
per tarea that they contract to work. We will 
employ from 15 to 40 men and 20 to 30 woniCn 
during harvest. 
Readers of the Tropical Agriculturist might 
and it to their advantage, to come and invest in 
this neighbourhood again. 
BAMBOO MANNA. 
One of the last numbers of the Agricultural 
Ledger contains an interesting description, by Mr. 
D. Hooker, of bamboo manna, and a report by 
Mr. A. E. Lawrie, a Forest Officer in Chanda, of its 
discovery in the Central Provinces. Mr. Hooper 
points out that bamboo manna has been known for 
many years among native physicians in India, bub 
the term is generally accepted to represent the 
silicious concretion found in the culms of the bam- 
hoc and called banslochan or tabashir. This, he 
adds, " is a peculiar substance, and its origin ii 
not satisfactorily determined. It occurs inside the 
stems of various species of bamboo, either in thin 
fragments or in masses about an inch thick. It is 
often mixed with dead insects in the stems, bub 
when calcined it becomes 0|)aline or pure white. 
Extraordinary properties have been attributed to 
it, and it is aaid to be tonic, cooling, aphrodisiac 
and pectoral, but from its composition it woul^ 
