CONTINENT OF ASIA. 



BRITISH INDIA. 



REPORT BY CONSUL-GENERAL BONEAM, OF CALCUTTA. 



After considerable unavoidable delay I now have the honor to submit 

 the following report upon the cotton textiles imported into British 

 India, as called for in your circular letter of date the 27th of May last. 



The annexed table marked A shows the quantities and kinds of cotton 

 goods imported for the past five years up to March 31, 1888, as well as 

 the values thereof. 



WEIGHT PER YAED. 



Under this heading I submit the inclosed very full and complete "state- 

 ment showing piece goods imported into Calcutta each month from 1883 

 to 1888, inclusive," which was kindly furnished me by George Henderson, 

 esq., of the large mercantile firm of George Henderson & Co., of this city. 

 This statement, I apprehend, contains a lot of information, not only as to 

 the weight, but as to the different kinds of cotton piece goods which 

 are in demand in this market, which will be of special interest to the 

 cotton manufacturers and merchants of the United States. 



HOW PURCHASED. 



A credit of forty-five days is usually extended to the Calcutta pur- 

 chaser of cotton piece goods, with a rebate of 1J per cent, for cash. 



The annexed table marked B gives the place of manufacture and 

 whence imported. 



DUTIES CHARGED THEREON. 



There is no duty in British India, either upon raw or manufactured 

 cotton goods. 



COTTON CULTIVATION. 



In this connection it would probably be of interest to give a brief 

 summary of cotton cultivation and manufacture in British India. 



For the year 1886-'87 (the latest reported) I find that the acreage un- 

 der cultivation in cotton was 14,532,513, and the outturn therefrom of 

 cleaned cotton was 818,058,848 pounds, or nearly 57 pounds to the acre. 



