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Show from a plant called kangan (Panicum italicum). Tn its pure state this chemica is known in India as lota-sajfi, literally, a kind of carth containing fossl alkali; the product admixed with wood ashes is termed kangan-Kharsajjt. Th residue is the substance used in treating paper pulp. In former years in th manufacture of sgjji the Indian workers cut the plans of the kangan in th autumn and allowed them to dry. In the meantime a cireular hole abo five feet broad and three feet in depth was dug in the ground; at the botto of this excavation were buried one o two earthenware jars, the bases of th jars being level with the bottom of the pit. With a pointed tool a worke pierced numerous small holes in the protruding portions of the jars, makin it possible for any liquid to run therein. A fire was started within the excavation and heaps of the dried millet-(cfena) plants were thrown on th ha ttery jars. The r earth whic h as finally stirred and covered wit assisted in the C()ohng rocess I a fe days tim th eart was thrown aside and the workers had a mass of crude unpurified potas for their labour. Aside from the sqji, the Indian papermakers also make us of lime (dhuna) in their work, but this material is now procured from com‘mercial manufacturers Colouring and Decorating Indian Pape "The making of blotting paper in India by hand is an important industry and one that Mr. Gandhi is endeavouring to foster. This paper serves it e cquzlly well with [orclgn machinemade importations, and it d on profitably, as wit proper introductio Tndian ha.ndmzdc blotting e would finduse by all native merchants it matuifactoes o this paxiculactype of paperithe ussion f mitabl writing and printing surfaces docs not present a problem as it does with al other grades of paper. The sheets of blotting paper are of good size, wel Digital mage© 2005 Marriot Library Un ity of Utah, Al rights reserved |