of cultivating the S7igar Cane. 265 



trouble, they have frequently been known to adopt our 

 practices. We ourselves ought more generally to keep in 

 view, and to instil into their minds, this maxim, that every 

 new proposition, merely on account of its novelty, must 

 not be rejected, otherwise our knowledge would no longer 

 be progressive, and every kind of improvement must cease. 

 At a period like the present, when the importation of 

 East India sugar has become so much an object of import- 

 ance to Great Britain, in consequence of the present state of 

 some of the best of the West India sugar islands, every in- 

 quiry that may tend to open new sources from whence that 

 wholesome commodity can be procured at the cheapest rate, 

 is of national importance. 



I believe there are few districts in the company's exten- 

 sive possessions where there will not be found large tracts 

 of land fit for the culture of sugar cane ; but I know, from 

 experience, the introduction of a new branch of agriculture 

 amongst the natives to be attended with infinite trouble; 

 therefore where we find a province or district in which the 

 culture of the cane and making of sugar have been in prac- 

 tice from time immemorial, there we may expect, without 

 much exertion, to be able to increase the culture, and im- 

 prove, if necessary, the quality. 



In the northern provinces, as well as in Bengal, Cadapahj 

 &:c. large quantities of sugar and jagary are made ; it is 

 only in the Rajahmuiidry and Ganjani districts of these 

 northern provinces where the cane is cultivated for mnking 

 sugars. I will confine my observations to the first, where 

 I have resided between ten and eleven years. 



This branch of agriculture, in the a.bove-n)entiontd sircar, 

 is chiefly carried on in the Peddapore and Ptttapore, along 

 the banks of the Elyseram river, which, though small, has 

 a constant flow of water in it the whole year round, sufli- 

 ciently large, not only to water the sugar plantations <Juring 

 the dryest seasons, but also a great variety of other produc- 

 tions, such as paddy, ginger, turmerick, yams, chilhcs, Sec. 

 This stream of water, during the dryest season, renders the 

 lands adjoining to this river of more value, I presume, than 

 almost any other in India, and particularly fit for th*. growth 

 jof sugar cane. 



By the bye, permit me to observe, that of all the parts of 

 India that I have seen, this seems the best suited for the 

 ^culture of the nuilberry and rearing silk-worms, as well on 

 account of the cheapness of lai)our, and the general abun- 

 ilance of provisions f(jr the nalivts, as for the soil, climate, 

 and situation. 



But 



