442 
until it arrives to maturity, when it com- 
mences its labours, and winds itself upsin 
a silken’ ball, produced from its. own 
body, ‘called a cocoon, about the shape 
and size of a pigeon’s egg, in the cen- 
tre of which it 1s metamorphosed into 
an aurelia; in this form it continues in 
a torpid state about ten days, when it 
bursts its silken prison, and sports in the 
aira gaudy butterfly. Its existence in 
this new state is very transient ; but pre- 
vious to quitting it, it drops its eges in the 
foliage of a mulberry-tree, which the vi- 
vifying warmth of the sun quickly ani- 
mates into new life. Only a suflicient 
number for continuing the breed are per- 
mitted to undergo the last transition ; 
as the act of bursting the ball, breaks 
the silk so as to render it unfit for the 
purposes of manufacture. When the 
worms have done winding, and are com- 
pletely enveloped in the cocoons, these 
are carefully taken down from the trees 
‘on which they were suspended, and put 
into ovens of sufficient warmth to de- 
stroy the insect without injuring the silk ; 
afier remaining there a proper time they 
are taken out and wound into skains. 
The cocoons are of different colours, the 
most common are yellow, orange, and 
brown; some are green, and others white, 
bat all these distinctions are lost in the 
preparations of cleansing and scowering 
which the silk subsequently undergoes. 
This last preparation renders it of a pure 
white colour, capable of receiving any hue 
the dyer may think proper to impress it 
with. The exclusive monopoly of this 
article is in the hands of government ; 
but when the investments of the Com- 
pany are completed, individuals are per- 
mnitted to make their purchases. 
During my stay at Burhampore I was 
much gratified in receiving an invitation 
to accompany some of the oflicers of the 
station to see the, act of circumcision 
performed on a young Patan*, at Moor- 
shedabad. [lis father, a man of rank 
about the Nawaub, received us at the 
outer gate of his residence, and con- 
ducted us with great attention, and no 
small degree of ceremony, to a large 
sha-mee-aeneh,} under which a numerous 
company were assembled. Chairs were 
placed for the European gentlemen, but 
the natives sat on a carpet with their 
——$—$—— $$ 
} 
* The Mahometans of India are divided 
into four great tribes, viz. Sheick, Suced, 
Mozhul, and Patan, each of these have nu- 
microus spbdivisions. 
+ A 6apvas awning. 
‘ 
- Pe.-y 
Narrative of a recent Tour tn India. . {Dec. 1, 
legs crossed under them, agreeably to” 
the Asiatic custom, » The young Mussul- 
man clect was seated under a small or- * 
namented canopy, arrayed in scarlet 
muslin, and decorated with jewels, 
which made a very brilliant appearance; 
he was seven years of age, and fair for a 
Patan native of Bengal. The koran is 
very particular in its injunctions respeci= 
ing cireumeision, but the time for the 
ceremony to take place is entirely at 
the option of the parent, Some perform 
it a day or two after ‘the birth, others 
leave it until the child is ten or twelve 
years of age, but the most general cus- 
tom is when the boy bas attained the age: 
of seven years. When this happy pe- 
riod arrives, messengers -are dispatched 
to invite the relations and friends of the 
family to the ceremony, which is done by 
presenting each of them with a nutmeg, 
which implies the same formality as com- 
plimentary cards with us; but this mode 
of invitation is only practised among 
themselves. 
We remained some time under the 
sha-mee-a-neh, waiting the arrival of the 
priest, whose approach was at length an- 
nounced by a band of music. On his 
entrance the whole company got up and 
saluted him with the greatest respect. 
He appeared to be far advanced in life, 
ofa mild and benign aspect, with a full 
white beard which flowed down to his 
breast, and gave a peculiar dignity and 
reverence to his-appearance, He was 
attended by two inferior priests’ anda 
barber. Le regarded the company with 
much complacency, and after bestowing 
a general benediction, proceeded to the 
child, and taking hold of bis hand uttered 
a short ejaculatory prayer, and led him 
to the outer door, where he was mounted 
ov a horse richly caparisoned, four of his. 
nearest relations with drawn swords in 
their hands, and dressed also in sgarlet, 
attended on each side of the horse, the 
company followed, some on horseback, 
others in their palanquins, or such other 
conveyances as their cireuinstances af 
forded, and an immense multitude of 
various descriptions on foot closed up! 
the rear; in this order we proceeded to 
a neighbouring mosque, at the entrance » 
of which the child dismounted, and acs 
companied by his four relations and the- 
priests entered the sacred building, where 
they bowed with the most reverential ; 
awe, and in the attitude of prostrate hu- 
mility, fervently implored the Divine 
Being to protect him from every barm- 
during the act of circumcision, cgetthe 
en 
