Part I] Lindsay and Hardow : Lac and Shellac 13 7 
though the remaining Feudatory Chiefs are also aware of the import¬ 
ance of lac and are endeavouring to stimulate the industry. 
Korea .—Lac is produced everywhere except in the north and 
west of Kilhari circle and in Baghrondi circle ; that is to say every¬ 
where except along the border of Changbhakar. The Durbar leases 
the right to cultivate in lots of a few villages. The principal local 
market is Baikunthpur whence the lac is exported to Pendra. 
Raigarh .—The northern and hilly portion round Lailunga and 
Ghargoda produce Kusum lac, whilst immediately west of Raigarh 
town is the Palas area. The Durbar leases the right to collect a fixed 
royalty on exports of lac. 
Sirguja .—There are four Tahsils in Sirguja State. Ambikapur 
produces a negligible quantity of lac, chiefly Kusum. The other 
three, Samri, Pal, and Chandni, are all full of Palas, and all produce 
quantities of lac. The system of leasing is by petty annual contracts. 
The principal dealers are Mahadeo Choudri, Jorisahu Hiralal, and 
Narainsahu, all of P. O. Ambikapur, Sirguja State. 
Ranker .—Lac is produced throughout the State, which is a very 
important supplier of Kusum lac. The Kusum tree abounds every¬ 
where. The State Forest Department is responsible for the control 
of the industry and every effort is made to stimulate it. The State 
share of the profits is obtained by the moderate export royalty of 
Rs. 6-4-0 per maund. The whole of the stick-lac, which is of the 
finest quality grown in India, is marketed g.t Dhamtari, where there 
is considerable competition for its purchase, chiefly among buyers 
from Mirzapur. 
Bastar. — The whole State is capable of producing lac, but cul¬ 
tivation is only in the north. The rest of the State is so far from the 
nearest market (Dhamtari) as to make cultivation unprofitable except 
when prices rule high. 
Should a railway ever pass through the State a definite impetus 
will immediately be given to lac cultivation, and the possibilities 
of production of high grade lac are very great. Both Kusum and 
Palas are common trees everywhere, but the present cultivation is 
nearly all Kusum. 
[13 7 ] 
