Note 23 — G

Occupation and social status. 3. The process of manufacture is distillation as practised at liquor distilleries, but the still (bhabka, bhapka) used in distilling perfumes is of peculiar construction. “I can best describe it as a gigantic goblet (surâhi) made of copper. In this is placed what is called the zâmin or mâwa of all perfumes, viz., Sandal ‘Itr, which is made at Kanauj. The flowers from which the perfume is to be extracted are thrown into water in the cauldron on the fire, and then perfume comes off in steam and passes through the worm into the copper bhapka and combines with the Sandal ‘Itr. When the bhapka is removed the perfumed oil is separated from the water in the bhapka by skimming the surface with the hands.”23 They follow the Musalmân rules regarding food, but will not eat food cooked by Muhammadan Mehtars.