57 



In 1873 Colonel Hopkinson, the Commissioner of Assam 

 gave more modern figures : — 



" It thence appears that the Soom forests (on which the 

 worm is chiefly fed) cover an area of about 34,000 acres, 

 of which about 18,000 are assessed, yielding a revenue of 

 nearly Rs. 28,000 (2,800?.)- By far the greater portion of 

 the assessed area lies in the district of Sibsagar. The 

 production of the silk is said to employ some 48,000 persons, 

 but it is not their sole calling. The out-turn of silk is 

 estimated at upwards of 100,000 lbs. But as it is admitted 

 that the greater part of the silk is reserved for home 

 manufacture, this estimate cannot be regarded as absolutely 

 trustworthy. The price of the yarn per seer (2 lbs.) varies 

 from Rs. 5 (10s.) to Rs. 9 (18s.) in the several districts. 

 The small portion exported goes to Calcutta and Dacca. 

 From the former place it is said to find its way to some 

 extent to Bhangulpur and Bombay. 



"The Silk Committee of the Nigri Horticultural Society 

 reported favourably on some Munga silk sent down by 

 Captain Jenkins in 1839, and expressed their opinion that 

 the article was calculated to become of extensive and 

 valuable use to our home manufacturers."* 



One acre of land yields 50,000 Muga-silk cocoons, which 

 yield upwards of 12 seers (24 lbs.) of silk, price Rs. 5 per 

 seer, or 5s. per lb. 



From Mr. Hugon's description of the mode of reeling 

 it is evident it is of the rudest kind, and points to a 

 remedy in the improved continental reeling appliances. 



The following particulars by Mr. Hugon in 1834 are 

 interesting : — The Muga silk industry is confined to Assam 

 and some Tipperat villages. The quantity of land planted 

 with food for the Muga was 5,000 acres, capable of yielding 

 1,500 maunds (123,000 lbs.), of silk. This silk formed one 

 of the principal exports of Assam. The average quantity 

 was 257 maunds (21,070 lbs.), valued at Rs. 56,054 (5,G05£.), 

 leaving the country principally in the shape of thread. 

 He advocates the use of the Moonga silk in coloured 

 fabrics, it being easily d} 7 ed. 



The diameter of the fibres of Muga silk taken from the 

 external part of the cocoon averages 1 4 T 3 ( , inch, but the 

 external fibres are very variable. The diameter of the 

 inner and less variable fibres is 10 1 80 inch. The outer 

 fibres will break with a weight of 2 J drams on the average, 

 but the inner will support three drams. The tension of the 



* Geoghegan, "Silk Industry of India,'' p. 25. 



