The Institutes of Akbar 147.4

147.4

K’has is the sweet-smelling root of a kind of grass, which grows along the banks of rivers. During summer, they make screens of it, which are placed before the door and sprinkled with water. This renders the air cool and perfumed. Price, 1½ R. per man. Kah i chappar (reeds for thatching) is sold in bundles, which are called in Hindi pilah, per ser from 100 to 10 d. Bhus, or wheat straw, used for mixing with mortar, 3 d. per man. Káh i Dáb’h, straw, &c., which is put on roofs, 4 d. for a load of 2 mans. Múnj, the bark of qalam reeds, used for making ropes to fasten the thatching, 20 d. per man. San is a plant. Peasants mix it with quicklime. People also make ropes of it for well buckets, &c., 3 d. per man. Gum, of an inferior quantity, is mixed with quicklime, 70 d. per man. Sirísh i káhí, or reed glue, is mixed with sweet limestone, 4 d. per ser. Lúk is the flower-bunch of the reed which is used for matting. People burn it, and use it as a candle. It is also mixed with quicklime and Qal’í. Price, 1 R. per man. Símgil (silver clay) is a white and greasy clay, 1 d. per man. It is used for white-washing houses. It keeps a house cool and looks well. Gil i surkh, or red clay, called in Hindi geru, 40 d. per man. There is a quarry of it in the hills of Gwáliár. Glass is used for windows; price, 1 R. for 1½ s., or one pane for 4 d.