See METEOROLOGY, and OPTICS.

RAISINS are the dried fruit of the grape-vine (Vitis vinifera, Linn.; Nat. Ord. Vitaceae, Linn.; the Ampelidea of Decandolle). The grape, which is the most extensively useful of all known fruits, is, according to its varieties, and the methods used in preparing them, converted into various kinds of raisins, some of which form very important articles of commerce. The finest are those which are dried on the vine, and retain the beautiful bloom which covers the ripe grape. They are called Muscatel raisins, and are imported to this country chiefly from Malaga, whence they come in boxes, in which the bunches are entire, and are carefully packed in layers, with white paper between them. To prepare Muscatel raisins, the grapes, when ripe, are allowed to remain on the vines, but the main stalk of each bunch is partially severed, enough only being left uncut to prevent the weight of the cluster from breaking. The leaves which shade the grapes are cut off, and the bunches fully exposed to the sun, which makes them shrivel, and lose much of their original watery fluid. The pulp remaining becomes by concentration very sweet. Thus prepared, they are often called "raisins of the sun," but are generally termed Malaga or Muscatel raisins.

The more common sorts of raisins are gathered when ripe, and are either laid in the sun, or are dried in heated rooms; they are sprinkled whilst drying with an alkaline lye, which is generally made by burning the prunings of the vines, and filtering water through the ashes. The water dissolves the potash in the ashes, and becomes strongly alkaline. This part of the process causes the saccharine matter of the grape, which is a peculiar variety of sugar imperfectly crystallizable, to form rounded concretions, and also partially to exude and cover the skin of the raisin with a thin saccharine varnish. A lye made of water, ashes, and oil, is sometimes used, and the raisins prepared with it are in consequence named Lexias. The black Smyrna raisins are small, dry, and black, without the white concretions of grape-sugar, which are so abundant in the Sultans, Valencia, and Denis raisins, or Lexias, as the two latter varieties are sometimes called. The best kinds of Lexia, or lye-prepared raisins, are gathered with the bunches entire, and are hung on lines in the sun; when they begin to shrivel they are dipped in the lye once or twice, and again hung up to complete the curing; they are then carefully packed in boxes (containing about 56 lbs.), half-boxes, and quarter-boxes. The fine Turkish raisins, called Sultanras, are always packed in cylindrical boxes, technically called drums. The grape from which this most delicious of all raisins is prepared is remarkable for being seedless and small; whereas the only other Turkish raisin known in commerce, the black Smyrna, has very large seeds, although it is a small fruit.

Another instance of a seedless variety of the grape is found in the common currant of the grocers, the Corinth or Corinthian grape of old writers. This is the smallest of all the varieties of the grape; it is only cultivated in the Greek islands, where it forms a most important crop. It is most extensively grown in Patras, Zante, Ithaca, and Cephalonia, comparatively few coming from Corinth, whence its commercial name was derived. The clusters of the Corinth grape are remarkably small, generally about 3 inches in length, the grapes being only the size of peas; they are gathered from the vines when ripe, and are laid up in heaps, called couches, exposed to the sun. When dry, they are cleaned from the stalks and deposited in rooms called seraglios, where, owing to the exudation of grape-sugar on their surface, the berries become sticky, and they adhere firmly together, so as to require digging out. When required for use, they are trodden into large casks called butts, averaging about 18 cwt.; caroteels or tierces, averaging about 7 cwt.; and barrels, of from 2 to 3 cwt. each. They are also now very frequently packed in boxes of from 1 to 1½ cwt. Although these different kinds of dried grapes are only used in cooking and confectionary, the trade done in them is enormous, and, as far as this country is alone concerned, employs a very large amount of shipping. The imports in 1858 were:

| Of Raisins | |----------------| | From Spain | 263,147 | | Italy and Sicily | 4,701 | | Turkey | 57,369 | | Other countries (into which they have been imported) | 5,263 |

| Of Currents | |----------------| | From Greece | 308,763 | | Ionian Islands | 63,270 | | Other countries (into which they have been imported) | 32,820 |

Wine is often made from raisins, and that of Malaga is chiefly manufactured from the dried grape. The luscious Hungarian wine, Tokay, is made from grapes partially converted into raisins on the vine. Raisin wine was made by the ancient Romans, and other nations of antiquity. The raisin wines of Crete, Cilicia, and Africa, were highly prized by the epicures of Rome.

RAJAH, a hereditary prince among the Hindus belonging to the warrior caste, or the Cshatriya. (See CASTE.)

RAJAHMUNDRY, a district of British India, in the presidency of Madras, lying between N. Lat. 16, 18, and 17, 38, E. Long. 81, 7, and 82, 40., bounded on the N. by Orisa, N.E. by the district of Vizagapatam, S.E. and S. by the Bay of Bengal, W. by the district of Masulipatam, and N.W. by the Nizam's territories; area, 4501 square miles. The northern and north-western portions of the district are occupied with hills, which resemble in character the eastern ghats farther to the west, and are of a granitic structure, mixed with gneiss, trap, and calcareous tufa. The centre of the country contains some lower hills of alluvial formation, and the ground along the coast is low and flat. The Rajeshaye only large river is the Godaverry, which enters the district from the north, and flows through it in a southerly direction for 49 miles. It then divides into two branches, that to the right flowing S. and S.W. for 45 miles, and the other S.E. and E. for 52 miles. In the delta thus formed lie some of the richest and most fertile tracts in the whole of India. The soil of the level ground is generally alluvial and fertile, especially along the banks of the river, where there is a rich dark mould suitable for the growth of cotton. Besides this plant, tobacco, indigo, sugar, rice, maize, millet, pulse, and other crops, are raised in the district. The Godaverry is navigable for boats, and much teak wood is floated down by it. The water is used for the purposes of irrigation. In the bed of the river are many small islands of rich soil, some formed naturally by the deposit of silt, and others by artificial means. The climate is warm, and generally healthy, except in the valleys and jungles towards the north-west, where a deadly malaria prevails. Rajahmundry, the principal town of the district, stands on a rising ground on the left bank of the Godaverry, 285 miles N.E. of Madras, and 380 S.W. of Calcutta. It has one main street, lined with low mud houses roofed with tiles. This street contains the chief bazaar, and runs along the river's bank; and several smaller streets branch off from it on either side. To the north of the town stands a square fort surrounded with mud walls, and containing barracks, hospital, jail, and magazine. There are many mosques in the town, but the Mohammedans are few and poor. Pop. of the town, 15,000 or 20,000; of the district, 1,012,036.

RAJESHAYE, a district of British India, in the presidency of Bengal, bounded on the N. by the district of Dinajepore, N.E. by that of Bogra, E. and S.E. by that of Purnia, S. by that of Nudda, W. and N.W. by those of Moorsbedabad and Malkia; length, from E. to W., about 62 miles; breadth, 50; area, 2084 square miles. It is a very moist region, being traversed by numerous rivers from the Himalayas in the north. The largest of these is the Ganges, which washes the S.W. border of the district. There are also many swampy lakes, some of them of large size; and in the periodical inundations to which the country is subject, many channels, generally dry, are filled with water. Rice is the chief crop raised here, but corn and pulse of various kinds are also grown. Indigo and silk are the most important commercial products of the country. Pop. 671,000.

RAJMAHAL, a town of British India, in the district of Bhangulpore, presidency of Bengal, and 196 miles N.W. of Calcutta, on a steep bank on the right side of the Ganges, which sweeps past with a broad, impetuous current, sometimes washing away large portions of the land. It contains the ruins of two palaces and two mosques, one of which is a large imposing building, though of rude execution. The houses are generally mean and ruinous, clustered round twelve separate market-places; and the appearance of the town is wretched. Rajmahal is a place of very great antiquity; according to one account, having been founded more than 3000 years B.C. It was ceded to the British in 1765. Pop. estimated at 30,000.