Uncultivated CHAPTER VI. UNCULTIVATED PRODUCE, AND WILD ANIMALS. DISTRICT SELECTIONS. I.-Uncultivated Produce.* Melgha't. The chief natural produce of Melghát is timber, of which teak, tewas, blackwood, and bamboos are the most valuable. Dyes. Gums. In dyes Melghat gives the fruit of the alda, and the flower of the dhaura (grislea tomentosa). Of gums there are several descriptions-the gúgal, the sálai,† the khair, and the dhaura, being the chief. The fruits and roots of various trees and creepers are also much valued, especially the mhowa fruit, from which both spirit and oil is got, while the Fruits and roots. roots are chiefly valuable for medicinal purposes. Wax. Beeswax and honey are also gathered and sold. The fibre of the dháman, bar, kúdul, chúrai, palás, moyá grass, moholí, and kúmbi is used for cordage, that of the kúmbi being also much in Fibres. demand for the fuze of native matchlocks. Dr. Riddell, late Superintending Surgeon at Haidarábád, has thus described Chikalda, on the Gáwilgarh hills: Though the soil of this plateau is sterile, the valleys, from being better supplied with moisture, are abundantly luxuriant, in many places profusely so. Plants are there seen that are no less prized for their virtues as food and medicine than as being well adapted to all the general purposes of domestic economy. A new appearance begins to present itself in the vegetable world, evidences of that mysterious organization that is found adapting itself to every geographical position. Ferns, maidenhairs, air-plants, lichens, mosses, and orchideous plants indicate a milder and more humid atmosphere; perhaps this inexplicable and most undefined adaptation of the laws of vegetation is nowhere better exemplified than in the case of the clustering climbing rose, that in the plain is never seen to blow, running there luxuriously to stems and leaves, whilst on these heights its tendrils bow down with the weight of its lovely mignon boutons. * Excepting timber, for which see Chapter III., Forests. "In the cold months the floral world reposes; little variety is then seen. Amongst its few gay flowers are those of the downy grislea, the sweetest of all being the clematis gouriama, whose odour hangs on every hill, where it is seen entwining its leafy tendrils from bush to tree in snowy wreaths. As the rains approach, the orchideous and polypodaceous tribes spring into life, and after they have set in the ravines become completely changed in character; numberless creepeers shoot forth, and scitaminious plants and lilies throw out a rank and vigorous vegetation. Thus throughout the several changes of the seasons a completely new and altered character is given to vegetation, conferring the most pleasing variety to the aspect of these hills." Samalu, used as an embrocation-Vitex negundo. Rítha, used for taking out stains-Sapindus emarginatus. Fibres. Kúmbi-Careya arborea. Yár. The champaign country about Elichpúr is diversified with topes of mango and tamarind trees. On the hills the teak grows to a great height, and yields valuable timber. The butea frondosa is also abundant, on the branches of which lac is deposited. The bassia latifolia (mhowa tree) is common, and the spirits yielded by distillation from the flowers are very abundant. The nallas have their banks covered by the elate sylvestris (sindi), and the euphorbia strikes its root in the driest and stoniest situations. A species of canthium and the vitex negundo are seen in the beds of the mountain streams. The grains and legumes cultivated near Elichpúr are very nu merous. Akola. The principal natural products are dyes and gums. The dyes are *1st-A1 (morinda citrifolia), extracted from the root of a plant of that name, which, undisturbed, grows a large tree; the process of obtain * Cultivated, but inserted here to complete the list of dyes. Uncultivated District Uncultivated District Selections. ing it is the roots being gathered are cut into pieces and dried, then crushed, boiled, and strained; by adding lime a yellow or red dye is obtained at pleasure, used for women's clothes. *2nd-Kusumb, the petals of the kardi or oil-plant (carthamus tinctorius). The petals are crushed, and made into cakes; these are again broken and dried, put into a strain, and water added. It is allowed to drip until good dye drop; it is then mixed with kár (alkali), and allowed to strain; this is the red dye for pagris, dupatas, sáris, &c., &c. *3rd-Indigo, produced only at Pátulda, obtained by allowing tho leaves to decompose in water; it is made up into irregular pellets.. 4th-Tesu, obtained from the flower of the palás tree (butea frondosa). The flowers are boiled in water and strained, and lime added; a red dye is obtained, used at Holi and weddings for besmearing clothes in wear. The barks are crushed and placed in layers in a vessel, and sufficient water to cover all added; it is then boiled for seven or eight hours; half the original quantity of water is then again added, and the mixture allowed to simmer on a slow fire for one or two hours longer; it is then strained, and the cuttah in powder added while still hot; it is then boiled for an hour, and again strained, when it is ready for use. 6th-A red dye is obtained from the gum of the pípal tree; it is gathered, boiled, and strained; this is the native red ink. The most plentiful is the well-known gum arabic, which is picked off the bábúl tree (acacia arabica); the palás (butea frondosa) also grows freely, Gums. and yields the gum butea (dragon's blood). Bulda'na. The chief gums and those obtained in the largest quantities are the product of the bábúl, the khair, and the sádra, or sáj, trec. These are applied to a variety of purposes, one of which is admixture with painter's colours. The following trees also yield gum, but in an unimportant quantity:-the temburni, aula, dhámúri, mhowa, &c. The well-known "bábúl rang" is produced by taking equal parts of the bark of the bábúl, the gular, the pípal, the mango, the mhowa, and the palás trees. The bark is boiled for twenty-four hours, then strained, after which to the resulting mixture are added the same quantity cach of káth or catechu, lilum, and sweet oil. The cloth is dipped into this, * See note to p. 53. and acquires the brownish red colour named as above, which, if care has Fibres. Fruits of forest trees. young sindí tree, is of great strength, and The fruit of the chár tree yields a The khirni tree, which is not very common in the district (there are some at Jánephal), is held in much estimation for its fruit. This tree is very common in Guzerát, in the Bombay Presidency. The common country liquor, called mhowa, is distilled from the berry of the mhowa tree, which is very commonly found throughout the district. The fruit of the aula tree supplies a preserve much thought of. The pipal tree yields lac, whence the country sealing-wax. The fruit of the temburni tree is also edible. And last, not least, the tamarind tree contributes its well-known and much-used fruit for human consumption. Wu'n. All the usual forest produce is to be found in this district. The following are worth notice, viz., gum, lak," chironji," "mhowa" berries, "bhiláwá" or marking-nut, "bel" fruit (a powerful astringent), "behera" (a dye), "alu," " tembura," &c., and honey of a very fine description. The fibres most in use are those obtained from the "palás" tree, called "bákal," and from the stalks of sindí trees. Less used are those obtainable from the elephant grass, from a shrub called by the natives. "kumbi," and from plantain trees. There are many dyes obtainable in the extensive forests of this district, such as "kusumb," &c., but the dye chiefly used is "ál," which is planted, and not found in a wild state. The same remarks applies to "san," or hemp, which is largely sown, and of which banjárás are great purchasers. Ba'sim. The gums of the trees, as per margin, are brought into the market for sale. These gums are much used as Dandu, khair, behera, bábúl. medicine. Considerable quantities find their way into the market at Hingoli; but the demand and supply is hardly sufficient to place this among the exports of the district. On these District Selections Mr. G. M. Strettell, Deputy Conscr Uncultivated District Uncultivated vator of Forests, has been good enough to furnish the subjoined note : Butea frondosa. "Flowers, tesu; gum, kumarkas. From the root-bark a kind of rope is made. The flower yields a yellow dye, and the powder used at the Holi feast; also used as a poultice. Seeds used as a purgative in veterinary medicine. Bark used in dying blue, in tanning, and in medicine as an astringent. Carthamus tinctorius. Morinda citrifolia. "This is the safflower. Besides yielding a dye, the flowers are used medicinally in diseases of the tonsils. "The root of this tree is used, not in dyeing (as in general), but as a cathartic. "Bark used in tanning, and dyeing a reddish brown. The bark from (Bábúl.) Acacia arabica. dicinally, and for the ordinary Wood-apple. "A most useful shrub. Vitex negundo. the roots is much used in the manufacture of native spirits. The gum is used mepurposes to which gum arabic is put. "It is the gummy substance that exudes from the stem that is used in dyeing; it fixes. Branches used in the manufacture of baskets and wattle-work. Leaves used in colic; they are also officinal, and used in poultices. "The milky juice is applied to sandcracks in the feet and excoriations of the skin. It is applied in decoction as a lotion to the body in fevers; and the root bruised is applied to boils.* Epicarpus orientalis. "Hindús venerate this tree, and offer its leaves on the shrines of Siva. The pulp of the fruit, fresh or dried, is used in affections of the bowels; it is also used in lime-cement. Ægle marmelos. "This is the soapnut tree. Seeds used in washing wool and Sapindus detergens. silk; they are also officinal, and given in cases of salivation in epilepsy, and as expectorant.-(Dr. Stewart.) "To this list of medicines may be added the Careya arborea. The flowers are officinal, being given by the Hindús after childbirth. "I was not aware that this tree yields a useful fibre. The milky (Bar.) Ficus indica. juice is used in native medicines, both externally and internally. I believe it is sometimes used to assist in the oxidation of copper. "I fancy it is an exceptional case when the Coccus indica attaches itself to the Butea. I have never seen a single instance in Berár. *Ainslie's Materia Indica. |