The Early Beginnings of Indigo. 131 



Messieurs Ferrier and Michelet, supported by an 

 enterprising English gentleman, erected a factory at 

 Sampooker, near Ghiretty, which is still in existence. 

 After the East India Company became proprietors 

 of a great extent of country, and the West India 

 British subjects had abandoned the cultivation of 

 indigo, the East India Company, acting upon prin- 

 ciples similar to those upon which they had formerly 

 declined the importation of that article, thought it 

 expedient to encourage the cultivation of it in their 

 own territories, for the purpose of promoting the 

 industry of their own subjects, and of insuring, 

 independently of foreigners, a regular supply of an 

 article so essentially necessary to the most important 

 of the British manufactures. With this view, about 

 the year 1779, they entered into a contract with an 

 enterprising individual in Calcutta, upon such terms 

 as induced him to engage in the cultivation of it, 

 and his example was soon followed by others. The 

 Company continued to foster this revived branch of 

 trade at a considerable loss, which, in the course of 

 a few years, amounted to 80,000. 



When the cultivation appeared to be fairly establish- 

 ed, the Company resigned the trade to the gentlemen 

 employed jn their civil service, the free merchants 

 residing in India under their protection. The specu- 

 lators became involved in distress, and the East India 



