MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR, 
15 ! 
dig three pits, which I shall call A, B, and C. The pit A in the CHAPTER 
center is a square of four cubits in extent, and one foot in depth. 
The pit B is circular, three and a half cubits in diameter, and two June g. 
and a half in depth. The pit C is a small circular cavity capable of 
containing; four or five pots of water, and communicates with the 
pit A by means of a small channel, which can be occasionally shut x 
up with clay. When all things are ready, the pit B is filled nearly 
with Soulu Munnu, and then is added a little water, which is mixed 
well with the saline earth, so as to form thin mud. This is then, 
put into the pit A for two hours ; when the earth subsides, and 
leaves a clear water impregnated with alkali, which is allowed to 
run off into the pit C. Some of this water is then put into a fourth 
pit, and mixed with cow-dung* The mixture is allowed to putrify 
for three days, and is then spread thin on forty mats by means of 
the twig of a tree, which retains its leaves. When dry, this forms 
a very thin crust on the mats, which are then laid on the ground, 
and exposed to the sun. Every day afterwards these mats are 
sprinkled with fifty pots of the clear brine from the pit C, procured 
as before mentioned. This is continued for twenty days ; when a 
cake of soda , about half an inch in thickness, is formed all over the 
mats. It is very impure, and sells for two Paissas the Cucha Seer, or 
9\d. the hundred weight. It is used for washing, and for 
making glass. Large quantities of it are said to be brought from 
jEllanduru, a town about forty miles east from Mysore. 
Another manufacture, for which Chinapatam is celebrated, is that steel wire 
of steel wire for the strings of musical instruments, which are in 1( ''' tliestn!1 S s 
great esteem, and are sent to remote parts of Lidia. A very distinct struments. 
account of this manufacture was given me by Colonel Close, who 
procured it from Mr. Ingledew, surgeon to the Resident in Mysore. 
I shall preserve his 'words, only reducing the weights and prices to 
the English standard. 
“ The mode of preparing country steel, before it is drawn into 
wire, is by taking any quantity, and heating it in a charcoal fire 
