Cotton-carder, Dhunia or 

 Behna. 



( 102 ) 



105. The tools with which the cotton-carder works 

 w jll b e Des t understood from the following sketch: 



106. The "dhunki" is of dhiip wood, "and is thicker at one end than 

 the other. The nob (kuskia or chiriya} and bridge (pata) are of nim. They 

 cost altogether Re. 1-4-0, but last twenty-five years. The string (" tant") is of 

 leather, double. This costs 1^ anna, and often requires renewing. The bridge 

 is protected by camel-skin pads, the nob by a band of iron costing about 1 anna 

 Spies. The plectrum (" rauthia") is of tamarind wood, the bow (Jcamdn) of 

 bamboo, with leather cord. It is fastened to the roof of the house, and is 

 attached to the carding-bow by strings of leather, keeping the latter about one 

 foot from the ground. By the flexibility of the " kaman" the carding- 

 bow bends and gives. Holding the dhunki in his left hand, the carder places 

 a heap of cotton near his right hand under the string, and striking the tant with 

 the " muthiya" separates the fibres. When a heap (gola) of about 4 oz. is clean, 

 he puts it aside, collecting the cotton with a (" gaz") yard. A man will card 

 2 Ibs. cotton in three hours ; but it is such exhausting work that he will only work 

 five or six hours. He is paid an equivalent weight of grain (but never wheat) 

 to the cotton carded. As this work generally is in hand from October to 

 January, payment is generally made in jwdr. 



107. The cotton-carder also spreads the cotton in jackets or quilts that 

 are to be stuffed, getting one pice per jacket, and two pice for a coat or razai ; 

 but the less cotton the higher charge, and for fine work as much as 12 annas 

 or Re. 1 is charged. 



