GENERAL VIEW. GEOGRAPHY. 5 



stance, to make an abstract of all the papers contained in CHAP. 



the first three of the foregoing publications, for the purposes '- 



of digestion and classification ; and then, by means of this 

 abstract, together with a constant and careful verification 

 of the original documents, to endeavour to draw up a narra- 

 tive of all the experiments which have been made by the 

 East India Company, with reference to this all important 

 subject; illustrated by such other information as could 

 be obtained from the different sources, manuscript and 

 otherwise, which were indicated by the Supreme Government ; 

 and exhibiting, in as clear and succinct a form as could be 

 attained, all the results that were likely to be of interest or 

 utility to persons engaged in similar enquiries or speculations. 



Three objects sought by the East India Company 3 

 with reference to Cotton. The improvements which the 

 East India Company have desired from an early period to 

 introduce into India, are three in number, viz., 



1st, A better variety of Cotton. 



2nd, A better system of cultivation. 



3rd, A better method of separating the staple 



from the seed, and of cleaning it for the 



European markets. 



One or other of these objects will appear in almost every 

 paragraph of the present Hand-book. Before however en- 

 deavouring to exhibit the experiments which have been made, 

 and the results which have been achieved in the Madras 

 Presidency, it will be necessary first, to glance at the speci- 

 alities of the country ; and secondly, to unfold more minutely 

 the nature of the objects which the late Company have sought 

 to attain. ^ 



Boundaries of the Madras Presidency. The Ma- 4 



dras Presidency may be described as an irregular triangle 



