196 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [184952. 



CHAP, luctance arose from these causes. First, the national apathy 

 * and dislike to enter on any new and untried method or spe- 

 culation. Secondly, the fact that the New Orleans Cotton 

 required a somewhat better soil and moister atmosphere 

 than the Native Cotton. Thirdly, there was a pressing 

 want of a home market and demand for the American Cot- 

 ton. This last obstacle was the most important of all. The 

 Native Cultivator had neither the means nor the enterprise 

 to grow for a distant or foreign market. The Native mer- 

 chant would readily buy the shorter but stronger fibre of 

 the Indian Cotton, because it was considered more suitable 

 for the Native looms and manufactures ; but the American 

 Cotton he would not buy. It therefore remained for private 

 European mercantile agency to create a certain and ready 

 market in the Cotton districts, by buying the Ryot's Cotton 

 every year at a, fair rate for cash. Such a local agency 

 would command a large supply of New Orleans Cotton, or 

 of any other commodity which the soil and climate of the 

 district were capable of producing. In addition to the cre- 

 ation of local markets, the object in view would be greatly 

 facilitated by advances to the Ryots, personal intercourse, 

 punctual payments, and other similar arrangements, private 

 and mercantile, which would be practicable through an Eu- 

 ropean Agency. Government also might aid the effort by a 

 very slight and temporary reduction of the assessment on all 

 lands under foreign Cotton ; bub still Mr. Thomas believed 

 that a sure and permanent market on the spot would be a 

 sufficient encouragement ; and that if the crops of Native 

 Cotton could pay the land tax, the crops of American Cotton 

 would be able to dc the same. 



259 Cotton cultivation by Mr. David 3Lees in Tinnevel- 

 . lv : discussion concerning the right of ChayarootRen- 



ot e her e p"- ters. The experiments of Mr. David Lees in the cultivation 

 of American Cotton in Tinnevelly, and their failure on the 



