THE AREINDY SILKWORM MOTH. 133 



o this country, on being examined by British 

 nanufacturers, was at first by them erroneously 

 >elieved to be the article employed in making the 

 ich East India shawls ; but, on examination, it 

 roved to be of a much harsher nature, and to wear 

 r ery rough, and has not been found applicable to 

 my valuable purpose. 



'' The Palma Christi silkworm goes by the 

 iame name as the plant does among the natives, 

 vhich is Arrindy. They accordingly call it Ar- 

 indy-worm Arrindy -thready Arrindy -doth, &c. 

 They rear it in their houses much in the way the 

 dlkworm is reared. Their manner of spinning it is 

 is follows : Four or five of the cocoons are fastened 

 ;o a stick stuck in the ground, or sometimes they 

 lold it in their hand. These are united into one 

 thread, and made fast to a piece of wood, with 

 something heavy to make it spin round while sus- 

 pended by the thread : when they let out sufficient 

 t)f the cocoons from their hand, it is twisted by this 

 piece of wood spinning round, and when well twist- 

 ed it is wound round the wood, and another length 

 let out from the hand. The cocoons are spun wet, 

 but only with cold water. The cloth is woven in 

 small pieces in a loom, and is as coarse as light vit- 

 tree, but more open; and on being washed and 

 beaten well, is made very soft and pliable. It is 

 entirely confined to the districts of Dinagepore and 

 Rungpore ; no other place in Bengal having got it. 



