Betula Bhojpattra, Wall., Brandis, For. FI., 457/ Gamble , Man . 
Timb 372. 
5 01 
The Indian Birch Tree; Indian Paper Birch. 
Syn ,—B. Jacquemonth, Spach. 
Vein .—Bhujpattra or bhujpatar, Hind,; Burj, bursal, bhuj, phurs, Pb,; Shdk 
or shag, r&dphatak takpa, Ladak, Lahoul, Piti, Kanawar; Takpa, 
Bhutia; Phuspat, Nepal, Tvz. Bhote ; Bhurjapatra, bhojpatra, Bomb.; 
Bhuj a patra, CUTCH ; Bhojapatra, Guj.; Bhurja putra, Sans.; Bhujapatri 
chettu, Tel. 
• 
Habitat. —A moderate-sized, deciduous tree, found in the higher ranges of the 
Himalaya, forming the upper edge of arborescent vegetation, and ascending to 14,000 
feet. 
Properties and Uses — 
Fibre. —The bark is used as a substitute for paper by some of the hill tribes, and 
supposed by them to be more durable than paper. It is brought down to the plains 
and largely used in the manufacture of hookah tubes. The young branches art: plaited 
into twig bridges. “ The bark is well known as the material upon which the ancient 
Sanskrit manuscripts of Northern India are written. Dr, Buhler, in his account of 
a tour in Kashmir in search of Sanskrit manuscripts, says ; “The Bhurja MSS. are 
written on specially prepared thin sheets of the inner bark of the Himalayan birch and 
invariably in S&rada characters. The lines run always parallel to the narrow side of 
the leaf, and the MSS. present therefore the appearance of European books, not 
Indian MSS., which owe their form to an imitation of the Talapattras. The Hima¬ 
laya seems to contain an inexhaustible supply of birch-bark, which in Kashmir and 
other hill countries is used both instead of paper bv the shopkeepers in the bazars, and 
for lining the roofs of houses, in order to make them water-tight. It is also exported 
to India, where, in many places, it is likewise used for wrapping up parcels, and plays 
an important part in the manufacture of the flexible pipe-stems used by hookah- 
smokers. To give an idea of the quantities which are brought into Srinagar, I may 
mention that on one single day I counted fourteen large barges with birch-bark on the 
river, and that I have never moved about without seeing some boats laden with it. 
None of the boats carried, I should say, less than three or four tons weight,” 
“ The use of the birch-bark for literary purposes is attested by the earliest classical 
Sanskrit writters- Kalidasa mentions it in his dramas and epics; Susruta, Vara- 
hamihira (circa 500-550 A.D.) know it likewise. Akbar introduced the manufacture 
of paper, and thus created an industry for which Kashmir is now famous in India. 
From that time the use of birch-bark for the purpose of writing was discontinued, and 
the method of preparing it has been lost. The preparation of the ink which was used 
for Bhurja MSS. is known. It was made by converting almonds into charcoal and 
boiling the coal thus obtained with gamut ra (Urina bovis) ; this ink is not affected by 
damp or water. (Journal (Bombay Branch), Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. XII., No. 
XXXIV. A.)” (Dr. Dymock, Mat. Med., W. Ind., 602.) 
“ The bark peels off in large sheets, and is used for umbrellas, for writing upon, 
and for the flexible tubes of hookahs. Every consignment of the ornamental papier- 
mache ware of Kashmir reaches the Panjdb packed in wrappers of birch-bark. The 
houses of Kashmir are often wrapped with it.” (Baden Powell, Punjab Products I., 
p . 569J “ The bark is used for chatta or rude umbrellas, and for covering tubes of 
hookahs, or native smoking pipes, and being of a sacred character is burnt on the 
funereal pile. Hindu pilgrims visiting the shrine of Ainrnath in Kashmir divest 
themselves of their ordinary clothes before entering the shrine, covering their bodies 
with the bhojpattra. It is now brought to the plains for lining the tubes of hookahs, 
and the leaves or bark are used to cover the baskets of Ganges water sold by itinerant 
pilgrims.” (Balfour’s Cyclop.) 
FIBRE. 
Paper 
substitute. 
502 
Young twigs. 
503 
Books. 
5°4 
Pipe-stems. 
5°5 
Umbrellas. 
506 
Clothing. 
5°7 
Medicine. - The bark of the black birch is valuable for its aromatic and antiseptic 
properties. (Murray,) 
Special Opinions. —§ “ The decoction of the bark is used as a wash in otorrhoea 
and poisoned wounds.” (U. C, Dutt, Civil Medical Officer, Serampore) “The 
infusion of the bark is used as a carminative; it is prescribed also in hysteria, (Sur¬ 
geon W. Barren, Bhuj, Catch.) “Much used to write medicinal charms upon.” 
Surgeon-Major W. Dymock, Bombay.) 
MEDICINE. 
Bark. 
5° 8 
Charms. 
509 
Fodder. —The leaves are lopped for cattle fodder. 
Structure of the Wood.— White with a pinkish tinge, tough, even-grained, 
moderately hard. Weight about 44 If* 5 ' P er cu tnc foot. 
It is extensively used in the inner arid Himalaya for building; it is elastic, seasons 
well, and does not warp. 
“Wood good: used for cups, common turnery, and for fuel by travellers in the 
higher ranges.” ( Baden Powell, Punjab Products, p, 969. j 
FODDER. 
Leaves, 
5 10 
TIMBER. 
511 
Cups. 
5 12 
Fuel. 
5 1 3 
