1840.] EARLY EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE. 31 



few Planters, and purchased a sixty saw gin, a model gin CHAP. 

 house, and other machinery, the object of his mission eked -- _ 

 out. The violent opposition which he then had to encounter, 

 compelled him to carry arms, and to labour under the con- 

 stant fear of being forced to use them; and the virulent 

 attacks of the press at Natchez, combined with a sense of 



the lawless state of the community, and the urgent repre- P- 27 - 

 sentations of friends, induced him to retreat" the moment he 

 had effected the objects of his journey. The Planters thus 

 engaged were each to receive ^300 per annum, and a gra- 

 tuity in the event of success. Three were deputed to the 

 Madras Presidency, viz: Mr. Morris, Mr. Hawley, and Mr. 

 Simpson ; and about October 1840, these gentlemen reached p> 305 - 

 their destination. 



Prevailing opinions upon Cotton Cultivation in the 36 

 Madras Presidency. At this time it was the general Despatehof 

 opinion, that nothing was wanting to promote the cultiva- 

 tion of Bourbon Cotton but a remunerative price. In Coim- 

 batore for instance, the Ryots at first had manifested a p ur 2 n 3 . a8 

 distaste for its cultivation, because: 1st, The seed contained M^Vum- 



no oil, and therefore the cattle would not eat it ;* 2nd, The Apr'n iW 



Pari. Re- 



demand was fluctuating ; and 3rd, The thread was too fine 

 for Native manufacturers. But when it was found that the 

 Bourbon C ottbn produced double the crop per acre of the ^ 4 4 \ Ibid 

 Indian Cotton, then we are told that the cultivation began to 

 increase. But still the Ryot received no more for Bourbon 

 than for Indian ; and in fact only received about 2 Jd. per Ib. 

 whilst the exporter realised from 6d. to lid. As regarded 



* Captain Taylor has pointed out that this objection is a fallacy, and 

 that cattle will eat the seed of American Cotton. He mentions that on 

 one occasion a Native Farmer urged the objection, when the experiment 

 was immediately tried by placing a basket of American seed before a 

 Buffalo. The Buffalo at once began to eat the seed, andCaptain Taylor states 

 that the objection accordingly died away in that quarter, and that the 

 growth of AmericanCotton was considerably extended. Essay on the Culti- 

 vation of Cotton in India. Other authorities state that Buffaloes will not 

 eat the American seed until they are half starved. 



