^04 . Scientific Intelligence Arts. 



from exposure to the action of sulphurous acid gas, or immersion 

 in acid, according to the degree of strength or purity of the sub- 

 stance used, as well as from the length of time the article is sub- 

 mitted to the action of the gas or acid. The silks manufactu- 

 red at Madras, are all of an imperfect white, but last much 

 longer than English or French. The coloured silks are scarce- 

 ly inferior, and stand as well as the best of European manufac- 

 ture. The scarlet, purple, orange, and other silk shawls, from 

 Bangalore, are really beautiful, and the colours permanently fix- 

 ed. It is also worthy of remark, that the English long-cloths, 

 muslins, jaconnets, &c. never retain their original whiteness for 

 any length of time, but assume a yellow tinge, which they do 

 not recover by any process of washing. Some pieces, after a 

 few washings, are full of small holes ; and it is an incontestible 

 fact, that one piece of good northward 36 Penijum, will wear 

 out three pieces of the best English loflg-cloth. No chemical 

 process is used for giving their cloth an artificial whiteness : 

 they are delivered from the loom dirty and brown, and when re- 

 turned from the washerman are as white as snow. The ad- 

 vantages which the English cloths possess, are, that they are 

 much cheaper, and have the threads of a more even texture, and 

 more regular. If some more attention were paid to the mode 

 of bleaching, there is no doubt, then, that they would be of 

 much greater consideration, and in more request than they are 

 at present. The mode in which the bales of cotton for exporta- 

 tion are usually packed, may also in some measure account for 

 the evils above mentioned. It is the general custom to com- 

 press a considerable quantity of cotton into a very small com- 

 pass. This is effected by means of strong, massive iron frames, 

 and powerful screws of the same metal, so that the cotton is 

 found to be almost a solid mass. Although much space may 

 be thus saved on ship-board, it is probable the cotton must be 

 in some way injured. If this be really the case, the natives have 

 decidedly a very material and obvious advantage in the manu- 

 facture of cloths. — Abridged Jrom a communication in GilPs Re- 

 pository. 



