MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR. 
75 
with a hammer, till they be thoroughly united ; which requires CHAPTER 
the labour of two persons for a whole day. The mass is then cut 
into small cakes, and dried in the shade. These cakes can at any May 20, &c. 
time be dissolved in water, and spread thin with a hair brush on 
common writing paper. The paper m ust then be put on a smooth 
plank, and rubbed with a polished stone, till it acquire a com- 
plete metallic lustre. The edges of the paper are then pasted down 
on the board, and the metallic surface is rubbed with the palm of 
the hand, which is smeared with an oil called Gurna , and then 
exposed to the sun. On the two following days the same opera- 
tion is repeated; when the paper acquires a metallic yellow colour, 
which, however, more resembles the hue of brass, than that of gold. 
The Gurna oil is prepared as follows : Take three quarters of a 
Mauncl (about 18 lb.) of A gas hay any (Linseed oil), half a Maund 
(lb. 12) of the size called Chunderasu , and a quarter of a Maund 
(6 lb.) of Musambra , or aloes prepared in the country. Boil the 
oil for two hours in a brass pot. Bruise the Musambra ; and, having 
put it into the oil, boil them for four hours more. Another pot 
having been made red hot, the Chunderasu is to be put into it, 
and will immediately melt. Take a third pot, and, having tied a 
cloth over its mouth, strain into it the oil and Musambra *. these 
must be kept in a gentle heat, and the Chunderasu added to them 
gradually. The oil must be strained again ; and it is then fit for use. 
The Chunderasu is prepared from the milky juice of any of the 
following trees: ( Ficus glomerata Roxb. J, Goni (a tree which I call 
Ficus gonia) Bay la, Baynina, Gobali, & c. It is therefore an elastic 
gum. 
The oil used for painting consists of two parts of linseed, and one 
part of Chunderasu . 
In white washing their walls, over the chunam or lime plaster, white wash- 
the workmen of Seringapatam first give a thin coat of Suday , or fine in °' 
clay; which is mixed with size, and put on with, a hair brush. They 
next giye a coat of whitening made of powdered Balapum, or pot- 
