at the same time an account of the various attractive water-plants to be met with at this interesting spot.
Describing the food supplies of Monghyr, he especially notices the Mahwa-tree, Bassia latifolia, one of the most useful trees in the world. "It is a fountain producing food, wine, and oil. Food to thousands of poor people, who find the succulent flowers, both fresh and dried, wholesome food; wine, or rather spirit, distilled from the flowers, to the whole of the district; and oil pressed from the fruit, used for the adulteration of ghi in this district and in Calcutta." Of the vast amount of Mahwa collected, by far the greater part is eaten, and during the famine of 1873–74, it kept alive thousands who otherwise must have starved.
Among the plants cultivated for oil in Monghyr is Mustard, from which many thousand tons of oil are yearly manufactured for home consumption or exportation. Flax, or "Linseed," as it is called in India, ranks next in importance, aud may be seen in almost every village; Castor-oil comes next, and then Sessamum, Poppy, Saf- flower (Carthamus tinctorius), and Starflower (Verbesina sativa). It is observable that, though common enough in the south, no poppies are to be seen north of the Ganges. Indigo usurps nearly 16,000 acres, and tobacco is cultivated to a very considerable extent.
Although the soil of Monghyr is said to have deteriorated since it was first cultivated, the number and variety of the crops which are successively raised is remarkable. In addition to the vast rice tracts with which, in the south, a great portion of the district is covered, and besides the vegetable products above named, may be seen encumbers, egg-plants, potatoe, Indian corn, capsicums, cauliflowers, peas, wheat, and the edible grass, Sorghum saccharatum, the last-named growing to such a height as to com- pletely hide a horseman when passing through it.
From the timber trees, of which an account is given (p. 249 et seq.), to the birds, reptiles, and insects which frequent them the transition is natural, and Mr. Lockwood has many interesting observations concerning them— so many, indeed, that it is difficult to make choice of any particular passage for quotation. His aim, as he informs us in his Preface, has been "to tell his story briefly, and in the lightest possible style." He has succeeded in writing a very entertaining volume, and one which contains more infor- mation on the Natural History of India than is to be found in many Anglo-Indian books of greater pretentions. It is to be
