192 BANTU INDUSTRIES. 



The first tile factory was started at Jeppoo, Mangalore, m 

 the year 1665. The handpresses and mills driven by bullocks were 

 replaced by machines worked by steam-power in the year 1881, 

 when the first steam-engine was set up at Mangalore. The tiles 

 manufactured there having been found of immense use to the 

 public and to the Government, the latter, as a mark of its apprecia- 

 tion, issued an order to their Public Works Department to use 

 mission tiles for all public buildings. The Government further 

 evidenced their appreciation by giving, as an encouragement of 

 this industry, a considerable quantity of firewood gratis from their 

 forests, and it is gratifying to note that the Government is still 

 encouraging the manufacture of these tiles, because of their 

 superior merits. At first, only flat roofing tiles were made. Now, 

 at Jeppoo, near Mangalore, the pioneer tile factory in India, flat 

 roofing tiles, ridge tiles, both plain and ornamental, sky-lights and 

 ventilators, ridge and hip terminals, and finials of various kinds, 

 grooved spire tiles, hanging wall tiles, ceiling tiles of many dif- 

 ferent designs, hourdis or ceiling slabs, common and ornamental 

 clay flooring tiles, Victoria cement flooring tiles, well and chimney 

 bricks, salt-glazed stone and earthenware drainage pipes, terra- 

 cotta vases, flower-pots, architectural terra-cotta ware, etc., are 

 made in artistic styles. They are considered a boon by architects 

 and builders. A word may also be added here about the ceiling 

 tiles which have been found to be of great value, especially in 

 towns where timber is rare and expensive. When these first 

 appeared on the market appreciation was expressed by the public, 

 and high praise was given them in the leading newspapers, such 

 as the "Madras Mail" and "Hindu." Similar praise was bestowed 

 on the hourdis or ceiling slabs which are now being used instead 

 of wooden ceilings in storeyed houses with remarkable success 

 The advantages of these are numerous, namely, there is perfect 

 resistance to heat, exclusion of noise from storey to storey, water- 

 tightness, strength and durability. There are buildings that 

 exhibit the technical skill of the clay manufacturers of these tile 

 works in many large towns of the Indian Empire and of Ceylon. 

 Such artistic works were made in one single factory at Jeppoo, 

 where this manufacture was started with about twelve men. Now 

 it gives employment to three hundred and thirty persons, and 

 twelve to fourteen thousand tiles are turned out daily. 



The second tile factory was started at Calicut, in the year 

 1873, similar to the one at Jeppoo, with hand presses, bullock 

 mills, etc. Gradually the work developed and steam-engines were 

 installed. Now the factory has two hundred and twelve hands 

 engaged in its operation, the daily output being about twelve 

 thousand tiles of various kinds, such as flat roofing tiles, flooring 

 tiles, ceiling hourdis, ridges, etc. There was an increasing demand 

 for the products of this factory, and as there was also an increase 

 of converts in the Christian Churches on the West Coast who were 

 seeking employment, it was deemed necessary to start new factories 

 in other mission stations as well. 



Accordingly in the year 1882 a factory was started at Kudroli, 

 a suburb of Mangalore, where now three hundred and eightv-eight 



