160 
Indian Forest Records. 
[Vol. mu 
There was a marked decrease in exports during the decade 
1881—1890, when the lac-dye industry was expiring and shellac had 
not yet come to its own. It is also noticeable that when the 
Calcutta shellac market is depressed, the shipments from Burma to 
Calcutta almost disappear, but increase when the market revives. 
Thus in the four years 1904—07, when prices were high, the average 
annual exports to Calcutta exceeded 25,000 cwts. In 1913-14 and 
1914-15, when Calcutta prices were low (Rs. 30—40 per maund), 
Burma shipments were only 6,359 cwts. and 2,964 cwts. During the 
three following years, when prices rose materially to Rs. 80—100, 
shipments were in the neighbourhood of 20,000 cwts. per annum. 
Distribution follows two more or less definite zones, one lying 
along the eastern slopes of the Arakan Yoma and the other in 
the hilly country of the Northern and Southern Shan States. In 
the former it is known to occur in Henzada, Prome, Thayetmyo, 
Minbu, Pakokku, Chindwin, Katha and Bhamo districts, and prob¬ 
ably occurs in others too. The Irrawady river forms the main line 
of export to Rangoon. Many of the Shan States produce lac, 
Hsipaw and Maymyo being the centres in the Northern, and 
Taungyi in the Southern Shan States. These States have Very poor 
communications and the actual distribution is unknown, but is 
undoubtedly widely spread, for lac even enters them from China, 
Thibet and Siam. 
There is very little lac cultivation in Burma, most of it growing 
wild. In Henzada district it grows only on the tops of the hills 
above 2,200 feet in most inaccessible places and very scattered. The 
principal host-trees are Pentacme suavis (Thitya), Shorea obtusa 
(Ingyin), Dalbevgia cultrata (Yindaik), Aporosa Roxburghii (Yemein), 
Dipterocarpus tube*culatus (In), Croton oblongifolius (Thetyingyi) 
and Ficus spp . In this tract the crop usually has an injurious effect 
on the trees, for it is only collected spasmodically and brood after 
brood emerge and cover every available part of the tree with lac, 
which exhausts its energies and results in its death. Further north 
and in the Shan States, lac grows also on Butea frondosa (Pauk) and 
Zizyphus Jujuba (Zi) and is found there at lower altitudes than in 
Henzada. 
Some confusion has occasionally arisen between lac and Burmese 
lacquer. The latter is a gum obtained by tapping Melanorrhoea 
[160] 
