146 REPORT — 1867. 



as few Eiu-opeaus remain to die in Calcutta. That which materially swells the 

 mortality of Calcutta is the death-rate prevailing amongst common soldiers and 

 sailors who go ashore into Lall Bazaar and other places of resort, and drinldng 

 arrack and other vile compouuds, staggering out and remaining in the open air all 

 night, thus briug on almost certain death. In conclusion, the following is the 

 death-rate per cent, per annum amongst various classes in India according to dif- 

 ferent authorities :— Bengal military, from 1800 to 1847 (Nelson), 2-40 ; Madras 

 militarv, from 1808 to 1840 (Davies), 3-28 ; jMadi-as militaiy, from 1808 to 18.57 

 (Brown), 3'11; European soldiers, from 1800 to 18.56 (Farr), 6-68; Eurasians, 

 from 1837 to 1851 (Tait), 2-47. In estimating a comparison of European mor- 

 tality in India, an essential element is the period of time embraced in the obser- 

 ■\'alions. Thus the death-rate dming the first quarter, or even half, of the present 

 century, is no just criterion for future guidance. A great change for the better 

 has taken place within the last ten years, and Englishmen may now settle in India 

 with much less cause for apprehension than prior to the era of railways and the 

 establishment of the overland route. 



Observations on Community of Language, and Uniformiti/ of Notation, Weights, 

 Pleasures, and Coinage. By P. H. TnoMS. 



On the Linen Manufacture in Dundee and its Neighhourhood. 

 By Alexandee J. Waedex. 

 In Dundee the linen manufacture now embraces cloth made of jute, as well as of 

 flax, and both fabrics are called " linen." Linen was made in Egypt at a very 

 remote period, and the manufactiu-e descended from that wondrous land through 

 Greece, Rome, and Flanders to Britain. In Scotland the linen manufacture was 

 for many ages of an entirely domestic character, and it extended over the length 

 and breadth of the country. Dundee engaged in the linen manufacture "a long 

 time ago ;" and since the iutroduction of mill -spinning, about 1790, if not before, 

 it has been the great seat and centre of the linen trade of Scotland. Until about a 

 centmy ago the material chiefly spun was flax of native gTO-ni;h ; but foreign flax 

 then began to be imported into Dundee, principally from Russia, and now almost 

 the whole of the flax consumed hi that town and neighbourhood is from that 

 country. About 18,30, a new fibre, of Indian gi'owth (jute), began to be used, and 

 though it made little way for a time, it rose in favour as it became better known, 

 and now it is the great staple of the town. The rapid increase in the consump- 

 tion of this fibre is remarkable. In 183G it was 300 tons ; in 1846, 0200 ; in 1856, 

 31,000; in 1866, 62,000; and this year (1867) it will exceed 65,000 tons, or about 

 •500,000 bales. The consumption of flax in Dundee has not varied much for the past 

 few years, it being about 24,000 tons, and of hemp 1000 tons, making a total of 

 90,000 tons per annum. lu the district around Dundee, about 37,000 tons of flax, 

 2000 of hemp, and 1000 of jute, in all 40,000 tons, are consumed annually. The 

 total consumption of flax, jute, and hemp in and around Dundee is now, therefore, 

 about 130,000 tons yearlv. " The cost of the raw material used in Dundee is about 

 £2,.500,000, and in' the "district around £1,750,000; together, £4,250,000._ This 

 material is spun into yarn, and the gi'eater part of the yarn is woven into linen in 

 the district. The total annual value of these commodities exported from the town 

 and district is estimated at £8,000,000. The nominal horse-power, number of spin- 

 dles and power-looms, and the number of persons employed in the spinning-mills 

 and power-loom factories in Dundee and in the district around, and also in the 

 other parts of Scotland, at 1st September 1867, were as follows, viz. — 



Horse- Power- 

 District, power. SjDindles. looms. Employees. 



Dundee 5822 202,466 7992 35,310 



t)istrict around .... 6290 191,452 10,151 28,875 



Together 12,112 39.3,918 18,143 64,185 



Other parts 2840 93,661 1774 1.3,010 



Total 14,952 487,579 19,917 77,195 



1 



