98 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [!ST. SEASON. 



CHAP, upon this point he succeeded in satisfying them. Thirdly, 

 ^' the question arose as to where they should sell the new 

 Cotton. This last argument Mr. Finnie had as yet no autho- 

 rity to parry ; but at last he made himself responsible, and 

 promised to take all the new Cotton off their hands at the 

 real value of the article. 



136 Explains the improved method of culture to the 

 Ryots. Having thus satisfied the scruples of the Natives, 

 Mr. Finnie went out and planted a small field before their 

 eyes. At their -desire he then accompanied them into the. 

 country to look at their fields ; and the party increased in 

 numbers as it proceeded, until at last he had fifty or sixty 

 people with him, all anxious to adopt the new plan and ask- 

 ing for seed. These results encouraged Mr. Finnie to believe, 

 that the people would speedily cultivate the American Cot- 

 ton throughout the whole area under the influence of both 

 monsoons : whilst those who only cultivated the Native Cot- 

 ton under the North-east rains, would gradually adopt the 

 new plan of sowing in rows, and of ploughing between the 

 rows. 



137 HI*- Finnie's tour from Courtallum to Coimba- 

 Mr Pin- toire J July. On the 1st of July, Mr. Finnie set out from 

 Jarf Di Re- Courtallum on a kind of exploring and itinerant Cotton 

 planting expedition, along the foot of the hills northwards 

 to Coimbatore. During this tour he was disappointed as to 

 the extent of the area of country enjoying the benefit of 

 both monsoons. Soon after leaving the vicinity of Court- 

 allum, he found the land deprived altogether of the South- 

 west monsoon ; and all was arid and sterile, until he had ad- 

 vanced beyond Pulney in the Madura District, and reached 

 the borders of the district of Coimbatore. There, however, 

 the South-west monsoon rushes through the Paulghatcherry 

 Pass, and fertilizes a large extent of country. 



