376 THE TIMBER TREES AND USEFUL PLANTS 
(kolhti)) and the oil is supposed by entering its pores to make it stronger. 
It is less lasting than sissti, (No. 47), and in Baker's experiments a bar 
6 feet long, and 2 inches square broke with 709 lbs. 
The bark is said to be used for application to hurts of the eyes, and 
a gum oozes from its trunk, but I am not aware of its being anywhere 
collected in quantity. 
6. JEgle Marmelos, Corr : hel. Has been very abundant all over these 
forests, but recently much of it has been cut down for charcoal, for which 
it is well adapted. It grows to 20-30 leet and is a handsome though 
small tree, with a light grey smooth bark, and when old a columnar 
(fluted) trunk. Its flowers have a delicious honey smell. The timber 
is light coloured, hard, and strong, and is sometimes used for crushers 
(ckforan) but is said to last only one year. 3^ yds. x J yd. — /12. 
The fresh fruit is used for sherbets, and its dried pulp is much valued 
and of considerable efficacy in some forms of bowel-complaint. 1 maund 
2/4; lib. — /l. 
The rind is used in dyeing yellow, and the Dutch in Ceylon are said 
to have manufactured a perfume from it. 
7. Andrackne trifoliata, Kox : ? An exceedingly rare tree in the inner 
part of the forest (and occasional in the Doons). 
8. Andropogon involutus, Steud : bhdbar. This grass, which is 
abundant in this part of the Himalaya and occasional on the skirts of 
the Siwaliks, appears to furnish almost all the material called bliahar so 
largely used for string in these parts. Botanists, from Wallich and 
Koyle downwards have stated this to be the produce of Eriophorum 
comosum (No. 54), of which, however, apparently only a very small propor- 
tion of that brought to the plains consists. 1 maund — /8. Dr. Brandis first 
drew my attention to the probability of the ordinary belief being erro- 
neous, and subsequent inquiry has shown that the case is as above 
stated. 
The string is very coarse, but strong, and although there is great 
waste in the manufacture, exceedingly cheap. 1 maund 2/ — . It is 
well adapted for boat-ropes, the rope-work of bedsteads, and other ordi- 
nary purposes. Possibly the bhdbar may come into play as a paper 
material, at least, it is worth the trial, and probably larger quantities of 
the raw article could be got than of any other fibre that I know of in 
this part of the Himalaya. 
9. Antidesma paniculatum, Willd : amli mendla (surshoree). Rare 
outside the hills, timber small and worthless. Its acid fruit (" Jchatta 
mithd") is eaten, and also applied as a discutient to boils by natives. 
10. Bambusa stricta, Rox : bans. All the bamboo of this forest and 
the neigbouring Doons probably belongs to this species. It forms one 
of the most valuable products of the forest, and will be alluded to more 
fully hereafter. 
The cut bamboos are divided into the following kinds, beginning 
