the Tusseh and Arrindy Si lk-1 Forms of Bengal. 41 
tlie Burbhoom bills, which I heard is more capable of being do^ 
mesticated than the one above described ; but I dare say you will 
excuse my saying an} r thing respecting it, as I can only speak 
from hearsay, the insect not being produced in these hills, 
u Yours very sincerely, 
" Michael Atkinson." 
Jungypore, 
28th November 1796. 
Extract of a Second Letter from the same Gentlemm^ 
dated 16th December 1796'. 
" I send 3 r ou herewith, for Dr. Roxburgh, a specimen of Bughy 
Tusseh silk. I kept the cocoons by me several days after they 
had been steeped in the alkaline ley, and they reeled just as well 
as if they had been newly soaked. The cocoons do not, I think, 
differ from those of the Jarroo species, except that they are 
lighter coloured. I send one which the moth has pierced, and 
will send for more to take down with us. There are none of the 
Palma Christ! species of Tusseh to be had here, but I have sent 
for some. I fancy this last is the most valuable kind, for the silk 
piece wove from it is uncommonly durable. The head sircar' of 
the factory here has an outside cover of a palanquin, which, ho 
tells me, has been worn eleven years; also some purdahs, which, 
he says, have been in constant use nine } r ears, and are not much 
decayed yet 1 remember examining the palanquin cover about 
five or six years ago. 
*' I have heard that there is another variation of the Tusseh silk- 
worm in the hills near Baugliporc; its cocoon is said to be smaller 
than the cocoons of the Bughy and Jarroo species; perhaps this may 
be the kind furnished to Doctor Roxburgh by Major Hutchinson: 
but, after all, I confess it may be suspected that all the variations 
vol. vu. o are 
