32 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [1840. 



CHAP. Indian Cotton, it was the general opinion that it had greatly 

 ' deteriorated. In olden time very much stress was laid upon 

 quality. The Indian manufacturers were themselves the pur- 

 chasers, and gave prices according to quality. Then again, 

 when the Company received much of their rents in Cotton, 

 the Agent would receive none but what was good and clean. 

 Subsequently however, the Cotton was no longer hought 

 direct by manufacturers but by brokers ; and thus quantity 

 rather than quality became the primary object of the grower. 

 It may however be remarked generally, that the condition 

 of Indian Cotton has been gradually improving of late years. 

 The Nat ives may be timid and suspicious, but they are just 

 as alive to their own interests as any European. 



37 Three Planters located in Tinnevelly, October 



Minutes of 184O. The three American Planters reached Madras just 



tion!" stst as the season for sowing was over. They were however dis- 



i84o, Pari. patched to the Tinnevelly district, under the superinten- 



(i847)p.3oe. dence of Captain Hughes, for the purpose of familiarising 



themselves with the native mode of cultivation, as well as 



with the character of the people. At Tinnevelly the Eyots 



were invited by proclamation to come forward and receive 



instruction from the American Planters ; and accordingly 



some Eyots about two miles off, requested the attendance 



captain of the Planters. The Americans proceeded to the locality, 



letters soth and pointed out the defects in the native mode of gathering 



March and 



1841 ^Pari 1 ^ e SQQ ^~ Cotton, and proceeded to explain their own method. 



( i847) ra p. The Eyots in return acknowledged the superiority of the 



309, sio. American method, but urged that it was more laborious and 



expensive ; and therefore they refused to adopt it, unless 



Government would purchase the Cotton so produced at a 



fixed valuation. In a word they would neither adopt the 



American cultivation, nor sow the American seed, unless 



Government would buy the produce ; and the Planters found 



that these sentiments were pretty general throughout the 



Cotton growers of the district. 



