146 COTTON IN THE MADBAS PRESIDENCY. [>TH. SEASON. 



CHAP, would be less than the cost ; whilst the enormous expense 

 ' would frighten the people from the culture. On the other 

 hand, by distributing the same amount among the Natives 

 they would be induced to carry out the experiment them- 

 selves, and would certainly attain success, if success were 

 really possible. These propositions however appear to have 

 met with no response from the Madras Government. At 

 the time they were written, the Marquis of Tweeddale had 

 departed for Europe, and Sir Henry Pottinger had succeeded 

 "him as Governor of the Presidency. 



204 Mr. Finnic 's matured judgment against the cul- 

 ture of American Cotton or use of the American gin. 



nie : letter* Shortly afterwards, Mr. Finnie had occasion to record his 

 1849 Pa3* ma ^ui*ed opinion in favour of the indigenous Cotton and Na- 

 U857 p. ti ye churka, as opposed to the American Cotton and American 

 191 ' gin. He could not, he said, after devoting his best attention 

 to the subject, entertain much hope of the success of the 

 American Cotton. It failed in Southern India on account 

 of the cold nights which prevail after a scanty monsoon. If 

 there were occasional showers of rain after the 1st of Febru- 

 ary when the weather became warm, and if the ravages of 

 insects could be also avoided, then the American Cotton 

 would succeed admirably ; but in the absence of rain at that 

 season, he was afraid that it would never become the staple 

 of India. Again, as regarded the American gin, he could 

 give no hope of its ultimate adoption by the Natives ; and 

 as for the European merchants, they never would be able 

 to carry on operations in seed Cotton, but must leave such 

 work in the hands of the Native Brokers. 



205 Pronounces in favour of the Indigenous Cotton 

 and Native Churka. But whilst holding the foregoing 

 opinions, Mr. Finnie looked hopefully forward to such im- 

 provements in the Indigenous Cotton and the Native clmr- 



