124 COTTON IN THE MADEAS PRESIDENCY. [2D. SEASON. 



CHAP. Erection of three gins and a thresher s their effect 

 ' upon the Natives. Having made the necessary alterations 

 173 in the hired house, Mr. Finnie erected two 25 saw gins, one 

 20 saw gin, and one thresher ; and then invited the Cotton 

 Brokers, Chitties, and Ryots to visit the scene of his opera- 

 tions. Accordingly they came in crowds. He showed them 

 the advantages of the gin over the churka ; and they all ap- 

 peared delighted at seeing the gin separate the staple 

 from the seed, and the Cotton come out so nice and clean. 

 He also showed them how the thresher separated so much 

 dirt from the Cotton. Still however they required time to 

 consider the propriety of adopting so new and wonderful an 

 implement. From what Mr. Finnie could learn, they ap- 

 peared to reason thus : " Here is a gentleman who is come 

 amongst us, and who proposes to trade in Cotton like our- 

 selves. He brings machines which are new to us, and 

 which evidently clean the Cotton beautifully ; and he ge- 

 nerously offers, either to let us have the machines, or to 

 work them himself in cleaning our Cotton. That the Cot- 

 ton he produces is superior to our own cannot be doubted ; 

 and it will certainly rule the market to such an extent, that 

 whilst he will dispose of his superior article to the European 

 merchants, we shall be totally unable to dispose of our infe- 

 rior and dirty commodity. Under such circumstances we 

 shall have no alternative, but to adopt the gin, or lose 

 the trade by which we make our bread. One point however 

 still remains to be ascertained. The ginned Cotton is evi- 

 dently superior, and ought to bear a much higher price ; 

 but will this increased value be sufficient to pay us for our 

 additional trouble ?" 



Testimony of the Brokers that dirty Cotton was 

 more profitable than clean Cotton. A deputation of 

 Cotton Brokers next waited on Mr. Finnie, to learn how 

 much they were likely to get for Cotton cleaned by the gin, 



