WILD SILK. 145 



double their size, and the butterfly is one of the 

 most beautiful creatures imaginable. 



The silk is manufactured in many parts of the 

 country into pieces which are chiefly worn by the 

 women as petticoats. In some manufactories it 

 is mixed with fine silk, and in others with cotton. 

 I believe that the insect may be met with there in 

 its wild state. The silk is obtained with very 

 little trouble. The people who make it their 

 business to propagate the insect, prepare a num- 

 ber of large trees in the jungle (called by the 

 natives asseri) by burning grass and wood un- 

 der them to drive away all other insects ; they 

 then smear part of the stalks of the trees with a 

 sticky substance, consisting of petroleum, or dam- 

 mah, and oil, which prevents ants from ascending 

 them, or they would soon destroy all the cater- 

 pillars. The caterpillars are then placed on the 

 trees, and when they have eaten all the leaves, 

 they are removed to others, and so kept, until 

 they begin to spin the silk, when they are carried 

 to their houses, and in proper time they are 

 sold to Biparies ; keeping a sufficient quantity to 

 breed from. 



In travelling through the country, great num- 

 L 



