the Tusseh and Arrindy Silk-Worms of Bengal* 47 
Extract of a letter on the same subject from Henry Creighton, 
Esq. of Malda, dated 12th February 1800. 
" The Palma Christ! silk-worm goes by the same name as 
the plant does among the natives, which is Arrindy. They 
accordingly call it Arrindy-worm, Arrindy-thread, Arrindy-cloih, 
&c. They rear it in their houses much in the way the silk-worm 
is reared. Their manner of spinning it is as follows : Four or five 
of the cocoons are fastened to a stick stuck in the ground, or 
sometimes they hold it in their hand. These are united into one 
thread, and made fast to a piece of wood, with something heavy 
to make it spin round while suspended by the thread : when they 
let out sufficient of the cocoons from their hand, it is twisted by 
this piece of wood spinning round, and when well twisted it is 
wound round the wood, and another length let out from the hand. 
The cocoons are spun wet, but only with cold water. The cloth 
is woven in small pieces in a loom, and is as coarse as light vit- 
tree, but more open; and on being washed and beaten well, is 
made very soft and pliable. It is entirely confined to the di- 
stricts of Dinagepore and Rungpore ; no other place in Bengal 
having got it. Its uses are for clothing, for both men and 
women. It will wear constantly ten, fifteen, or twenty years ; the 
merchants also use it for packing fine cloths, silks, or shawls. 
It must, however, be always washed in cold water; if put into 
boiling water, it makes it tear like old rotten cloth. There is a 
cocoon produced wild upon the mango-tree, which they gather, 
and mix with Arrindy cocoons in spinning. I have only seen one 
caterpillar of it, and I did not succeed in rearing it. I shall in- 
quire for some, and get a drawing made, if possible, as they can- 
not be sent or carried to any distance. 
EX PL A- 
