184-9 52.] RELATIVE COST OF LABOUR. 193 



directed the Collector of Cuddapah to supply him with one; CHAP, 

 but no further information respecting the working of it ' 

 appears upon the records. 



Relative cost of labour on the Churka, the Man- 254 

 Chester Cottage! Crin, and! the large Hand gins. The 

 coolies on the Manchester Cottage gins were paid at the 

 rate of one anna (ld.) for every maund of seed Cotton 

 which they cleaned ; but on the large Hand gins they were 

 only paid eight pies (Id.) per maund. This enhanced rate 

 had been found necessary in the first instance to induce the 

 coolies to work the Cottage gin ; but Dr. Wight considered 

 that had the lower rate been always paid, their assiduity 

 would have been greater, and consequently the out-turn 

 would have been larger. Again, it is curious to notice 

 that the coolies only cared to earn a certain amount per 

 diem, and did not feel inclined to work more than was 

 necessary to obtain that amount. Thus the women with 

 the Churka could only earn each per diem from six 

 to nine pies, that is from three farthings to a fraction more 

 than a penny. The same women with the Manchester 

 Cottage gin could each earn two annas, or three pence, per 

 diem with ease ; and they might, if they liked earn, as much 

 as 4|d. per diem, but that they never seemed to care to do. 

 It seems doubtful whether this reluctance to earn so 

 much, arose from a corresponding reluctance to work, or 

 from a fear lest the rate should be lowered if it was 

 found that they could earn so large an amount per diem. 



Three years' progress in the Cotton experiment, 255 



185 O -5 2. During three years, that is from 1849 to 1852, 

 the Cotton experiment seems to have proceeded without 

 many references to Government. This is not surprising 

 considering the circumstances. Dr. Wight was carrying on his 

 duties in Coimbatore by the express orders of the Court of 



Directors, and in direct opposition to the opinions expressed 



A 1 



