[ *97 3 
XXVIII. Some Particulars relative to the Production of Borax k 
In a Letter from William Blane, Efq, to Gilbert Blane, M.D. 
F. R. S. 
Read May 17, 1787. 
t 
M Y journey to the northern mountains in January lafl, in 
attendance upon the Vizier, gave me an opportunity 
of fatisfying, in fome degree, my curiofity on the fubject you 
are fo defirous of being informed of, the production and manu- 
facture of Borax. The place which his Excellency vifited is 
called Betowle, and is a fmall principality in the firft of the 
northern mountains, where they rife from the plains of Hin- 
doftan, and is diflant from Lucknow about 200 miles N.E. 
The town is a principal mart, where the commodities of the 
mountains are exchanged for thofe of the plain. The Raja, 
or Prince of the country, holds his pofleflions in the hills as 
an independent fovereign ; but for thofe on the plain he owes 
fealty, and pays tribute to the Vizier. He therefore embraced 
this opportunity of paying homage in perfon to his Lord. 
During his flay at court, I had an opportunity of making the 
enquiries I wifhed from his people, and particularly from his 
Dewan or Minifler, who had with him fome of the inhabitants 
of the place where the borax is made. 
This faline fubflance, called in the language of this country 
Swagah , is brought into Hindoflan from the mountains of 
Tibbet. The place where it is produced is in the kingdom of 
X x 2 Jumlate, 
