184849.] DISCUSSIONS OF Da. WIGHT AND MR. FINNIE. 161 



that instead of the Ryots bringing their Cotton to me, as CHAP. 



they bring it to you at Coimbatore, I have been compelled 



to purchase at a high price from the Brokers. The reason 

 of this is obvious. In Coimbatore you are so far from the 

 coast, that there is no local demand ; and the people are 

 only too glad to carry their seed Cotton to your gin-house, 

 where they find a purchaser at once, Tinnevelly however 

 is filled with Chitties who purchase for the European agents ; 

 whilst there are also numbers of Brokers, who gain their 

 living by churkaeing the Cotton, and who will not see me 

 deprive them of their livelihood without a struggle. I have 

 however got fifty-eight candies of Cotton, cleaned by the 

 churka men ; and I submit that the quality is equal to that 

 of ginned Cotton, whilst the staple is far better, and the 

 cost much less. Then again, as regards the working of the 

 gins 1 have had considerable trouble. The coolies, who 

 turn the wheels, have hitherto refused to work excepting by 

 the day; arid I have only just been able to induce them 

 to work by contract at three rupees, or six shil- 

 lings, per 1000 Ibs. of seed Cotton, including threshed 

 work. A s regards the gins themselves, I should also like to 

 have the benefit of your suggestions ; for, though properly 

 fixed, they will not turn out so much work as yours ; and the 

 -most we can do with all three is to gin 1760 Ibs. of seed Cotton 

 per diem. As regards the introduction of American Cotton, 

 about which you are so anxious, 1 have the pleasure to men- 

 tion for your gratification, that I have induced many Natives 

 to plant a little. Some have planted it by itself throughout 

 entire fields ; others have sown it with grain ; others again 

 have scattered the seed among the Native Cotton, with the 

 hope that the stamina of the American may mingle their 

 pollen with that of the Native plant, and thus gradually pro- 

 duce a hardier plant than the American, and one more pro- 

 ductive and of finer staple than the Indian. 



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