of Cachemire and Buutun. 235 



duction of the Spanish breed. This branch, so useful to 

 the progress of all our cloth and \yoollen manufactures, is 

 carried to such a degree of perfection in Cachemire, that 

 the wool of that country, known there under the name of 

 toiiss, is the finest and most silky in the universe. This 

 fact I can prove by the shawls, the use of which began in 

 France, and has thence been extended all over Europe since 

 our expedition to Egypt. These superb articles, which ruin 

 ail our manufactures, since they cannot imitate them even 

 with the wool of the Merinos, is fabricated in Cachemire 

 with the tons'! of that country wool, which is so excced- 

 inglv beautiful that it might be taken for silk. 



To publish processes, and the methods employed by the 

 people among whom this art is cultivated with success, and 

 to propose to gcjvernment the putting them in practice, is 

 placing confidence in its beneficent views. Sensible of this 

 truth, I have endeavoured to make known in this memoir 

 some processes used in Cachemire in regard to the manner 

 of washing and taking care of the sheep, and the methods 

 employed to prepare the wool. These methods, which havi 

 improved the sheep and ameliorated the wool, might be 

 adopted and followed in France with advantage : they would 

 be attended with beneficial results ; at least, I have reason 

 to think so, since the climate of these countries is nearly 

 the same as that of France, as I shall prove hereafter. 



No country in the world is diversified in a more agreea- 

 ble manner than Cachemire; it unites the advantages of all 

 climates. The plants which grow between the tropics thrive 

 in the plains and on the sides of the hills of that small di- 

 strict, and thcTse of the most northern regions become na- 

 turalized on its mountains, the summits of which are co- 

 vered with snow throughout almost the whole year. In these 

 points of view, Cachemire is one of the most agreeable coun- 

 tries of Indostan. since it is so much favoured by nature. 



A pure and constantly serene sky, brilliant nights, con- 

 tinual dews, and innumerable' springs which water the hills 

 and the plains, the town of Sirinagar situated in the middle 

 of fertile fields, the terraces of the houses of which form so 

 nianv gardens suspended in the air like those of Semiramis, 

 the celebrated queen of Babylon, as we learn from history, 

 — all these give but an imperfect image of the country. 



The mountains which surround this rich and fertile di- 

 strict produce abundance of aromatic plants, v.hich aflbrd 

 excellent pasture for sheep : they are covered almost the 

 wliole year with wild thyme and sweet marjoram. It is to 

 all these advantages united that Cachemire is in part in- 

 debted 



