Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/184

 176 RAE Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo), a magnificent tree, with beautiful foliage, and a very fine-grained wood, which takes a very good dark polish. It is rather heavy for furniture, but is used extensively in gun and other carriage manufacture. Dhák (Butea frondosa), a tree much used for firewood, and with the roots the natives make rope. Babul (Acacia arabica), a tree of fast growth, with graceful foliage, and a very bard wood, universally used in the manufacture of country carts, agricultural implements, tent pegs, and mallets. Grazing grasses.—The most esteemed species being "dub" (Agrostis linearis). It does not burn up so fast as other kinds in the hot weather. Tin (Andropogon muricatum), a grass in universal use for thatching purposes, the reeds being made into brooms. The roots of it supply the khas, with which our bot weather tatties are made. It grows on the banks of rivers and marshes, and is generally strictly preserved, as it takes time to spread. Proprietors are averse to its being dug up for the kbas. Patawar or sarpat.—(Saccharum muuja, saccharum procerum, saccha- rum sara.) With the upper part of the stem are made "sirki," a kind of mat which keeps off rain. The upper leaves are used for thatching. With the coarser leaves below these a string called “múnj" is made, and the natives use the stalks or strong reeds which they call "sentha" for the groundwork of their thatches. Kása (Saccharum spontancum) is used for thatching and making a kind of string called “bán." Kus.- A kind of grass used for thatching, and of which blacksmiths make charcoal for their forges. Pasáhi.-A kind of rice which grows in many tanks and marshes. Lákh.—The product* of an insect "coccus laccs," which is found on the branches of different trees. From it is produced, after it has been steeped in water to carry off the colouring matter, the “chapra," or shell lac of com- merce, the manufacture of which is carried on at Cawnpore, where the colouring matter is made into cakes of a deep red colour. The raw produce is sold to Pásis, Khatiks, and other low caste tribes, who break off the twigs on which it is deposited in the months of May and June. In this state it is known as "stick lac." After separating the deposit from the twigs, when it is known as seed lac, they sell it to Manihárs, who make it into “chúris" or bangles. Silkworm.--Kuswari. The cocoon of a silkworm, "Phaloena paphia," which spins on the béri, a kind of yellow plum tree. The thread is like • Drury's Useful Plants of India, Page 5.