PUGHA, in the territories of the maharaja of Jamu and Kashmir, is a small valley with a lake, in which borax is deposited. The portion from whence the sollaga or tincal is collected has a fine stream running through it into the river Indus ; the portion producing the borate of soda is, if not watered by, still under the influence of, thermal springs, varying from 130° to 167° ; the tempera ture of the streams into which these empty being in July 56°. The entire produce of the valley might bo roughly calculated at 20,000 kucha inaunds of :18 lbs. The greater portion finds its way to Rampur in Bishahr; some to Kulu, via Mandl, to tho lower hills ; and a small quantity, via Chamba, to Nttrpur. Nearly all that going via Rampur is taken into tho lower hills iu the neigh bourhood of Sabathn, Bliaji, etc., where wood is procurable, and where, during winter, it is refilled by tho carriers who go there to graze their flocks. It thus becomes borax, in which state it nearly all finds its way to Jugadri in the plains. The
whole of the lake plain of Pugha is covered, to the depth of several feet at least, with white salts, principally borax, which is obtained in a tolembly pure state by digging; the superficial layer, which contains a little mixture of other saline matters, being rejected. There is at present little export of borax from Pugha, the demand for the salt in Upper India being very limited, and the export to Europe almost at an end. It has long been known that borax is produced naturally in different parts of Tibet, and the salt imported thence into India was at one time the principal source of supply of the European market. There is another locality near Rodok, in Chinese territory, yielding it, from which the route to the plains is via the Niti pass ; this borax is said to be of a very superior quality, nearly pure, and requiring, little or no refining.—Turner's Tibet, p. 406; Blanc in Ph. 7'r., 1787, p. 297 ; Powell, Handbook.