99 



effect is obtained by scraping over the surface with a 

 small tool shaped like a bradawl (PI. XI, fig. i). 



(/) Economic position of the trade. 



At the present time the industry enjoys considerable 

 prosperity. The demand for bangles suitable for low- 

 caste Hindu women and for the hill tribes is a stable one, 

 influenced by no fluctuations of fashion and dependent 

 only upon the general well-being of the province. When 

 food supplies are abundant with prices at a normal level, 

 and work readily procurable, women of the labouring 

 classes are able to indulge their fancy in bangles ; their 

 tastes are conservative and a good demand in conse- 

 quence is experienced for arm ornaments made from the 

 chank shell. The Swadeshi movement has assisted this 

 industry materially particularly among the more well-to- 

 do castes and during the height of the agitation the 

 demand for more highly ornamented chank bangles 

 increased markedly and gave a much-needed impetus 

 to the manufacture of bangles of the more elaborate 

 patterns. This factor now exercises less influence on 

 the trade, its place being taken by the more healthy 

 influence for good exercised by the advertisement of the 

 best productions of Dacca at the provincial exhibitions 

 held from time to time during late years. Several of 

 the leading Dacca manufacturers occasionally stage 

 exhibits, sometimes even sending workmen to demon- 

 strate the methods employed. These exhibitors have 

 had the enterprise to make up a number of chank-shell 

 ornaments in semi-European style — flower pattern 

 bangles, long chains, brooches, buttons and even small 

 figures of gods ; for these there appears to have been a 

 remunerative demand capable of considerable extension 

 as the manufacturers and dealers become more enter- 

 prising. An excellent advertising move would be for 

 them to arranoe with the dealers in Indian artwares at 

 the great cities most visited by tourists to stock a 

 quantity of the best and most ornamental chank produc- 

 tions turned out by their workshops ; both because of the 

 intrinsic beauty of many of these articles and of the 

 interest attachino- to their origrin and to the custom 

 prescribing their use among a great section of Indian 

 tribes and castes, such articles should find many 

 purchasers among European and American ladies, 



7-A 



