39 



of the yellow variety (lal poka), and another containing the same 

 number of the white variety (shiti) ; and I now forward two 

 samples of the silk produced by the former (one finer quality 

 and one coarser), and one of that produced by the latter, reeled 

 in the native manner. Of the cocoons twenty of each sort have 

 been procured from Shampore in the south of the district, and 

 an equal number from Ampta in the west. As the species of 

 worms appear the same in both places, I thought it needless to 

 multiply packages by sending them separately. The samples of 

 silk sent from Ampta have also alone been sent for the same 

 reason. 



2. The culture of the worms is carried on solely in the native 

 manner ; no artificial means for incubating the eggs are used. 

 They are laid on the same bamboo trays where the rearing 

 process takes place, and thus placed, they are hatched in two 

 days, or three at the most. The rearing house is a common, 

 hut without windows, the door darkened with a curtain, and the 

 uprights on which the stages are supported are placed in basins 

 of water to prevent ants reaching the worms. The trays are 

 plastered with dried cowdung. 



3. From the time when they commence feeding to the comple- 

 tion of their growth, they feed without anv intervals of rest, until 

 the twentieth or twenty-seventh day, according to the heat of 

 the season, when, having attained their full growth, they are 

 dormant for three days. They are then placed on trays of mat- 

 ting, on which strips of bamboo are fastened in concentric circles 

 about an inch apart, and these mats are placed at an oblique 

 angle to the sun along the sides of a shed, so as to give plenty 

 of air and light, without exposing them to the direct rays of the 

 sun. The completion of the cocoons occupies about three days. 

 The chrysalides, not intended for propagation, are destroyed 

 simply by being exposed to the full heat of the sun. The others 

 are stored in the darkened chamber in an airy situation. 



4. The period during which they are dormant varies in this 

 climate from twenty days in the hot weather to one month in 

 the cold. The total period of evolution thus takes from six and 

 a half weeks to nine weeks, according to season, and there are six 

 or seven such periods in most years. Eight is unusual. I am 

 told that the silk produced in February, J une, and November, is 

 usually considered the best, that at other times being inferior. 

 The two specimens of yellow silk sent are both of the November 

 produce ; the difference in class being due to preparation from 

 inferior cocoons. 



5. The packets of eggs are expected to be ready in a fortnight 

 at furthest. 



