CCXXVIU 



this too has been superseded by the Bombay article. As a necessary 

 result of the cessation of all these vocations, the labor is now directed 

 entirely in one direction towards weaving, and it is in consequence 

 very cheap. What used to be paid for at Rs. 2 in former years is now 

 remunerated by 1 rupee only. 



Even as regards the merchant class, the general complaint is that 

 the trade does not pay. It may be that a larger number of cloths are 

 now made than before, but what merchants make as profit by reason 

 of the cheapness of the commodity and keenness of competition seems 

 to be considerably less than what it was in former years. A cloth 

 which was sold for Rs. 60 is now sold for only Rs, 30. 



As a curious illustration of how the importation of the English- 

 made goods has affected the local weaving industry, it may be 

 mentioned that the weavers themselves of the town of Madura do 

 hardly use the cloths woven by them. Mulls and piece-goods have 

 taken the place of the home-made articles and if the richer class should 

 seek for some country cloths, it is the Oonjeeveram cloths that are 

 made use of. The females likewise use the T/iombu, and if they seek 

 for some better country-made cloths, they purchase the Koranadu 

 cloths. Thus it happens that one or two per cent, of the town-made 

 articles are sold in the town itself and the rest are sent abroad. 



The habits and manners of the silk weavers as a class. — Silk weavers as 

 a class lead a simple life. Their food is simple and consists of cholum, 

 cumbu and other dry grains. Rice is used by comparatively few 

 persons only. Their clothing is simple. The females wear a cloth of 

 Rs. 2 worth only, except on festive occasions, when they wear the Kora- 

 nadu cloths. House accommodation is necessary for their profession, 

 and each endeavours, therefore, first, to secure a house for himself. 

 They are not also without the desire for ornaments. Even the poorest 

 household are mentioned to have some gold jewels. A silk weaver's 

 property consists generally of his house and ornaments. Marriage is 

 costly with them. About Rs. 63 must be paid to the bride even by the 

 poorest man. To meet this item of expenditure, almost every cooly 

 before he enters on his profession begins to subscribe to some CHit 

 transaction or other and to save out of his hard earned wages 1 rupee 

 or so to be paid monthly for a series of years extending from five to 

 seven. Before he earns his prize in his turn, necessity, however, often 

 compels him to borrow, mortgaging his chit amount and the house 

 owned by him. It is such documents that are registered in large 

 numbers in the town offices of Madura. There is another peculiarity 

 about these silk weavers. They seldom borrow from other than their 

 castemen. In case of loans of large sums, probably they may resort to 

 the Nattukkottai chetti, but (ill ordinary loans are contracted from one 

 of their own community. 



In addition to the town of Madura, the weaving industry is carried 

 on in the following places in the district — Dindigul, Paramakudi, 

 Ralni, Tirumangalam and Aruppuk6ta. In Dindigul only laced cloths 

 are made to the value of Rs. 1 or so. In other places rough country 

 cloths only are made. In all the stations, the industry is said to be 

 declining so much so that weavers from these places come up to 

 Madura for employment and overcrowd the market. 



