36 Remarks on the Silks of Assam. [Jan. 



culty and with a crackling noise — until it brought several layers with 

 it, from which it could not be detached without breaking, some thing 

 may perhaps be hereafter found to reduce tbat adhesiveness. It is, I 

 think, unlikely that the worm should spin in a different way from all 

 others, allowing this to be the case, great improvements could be 

 made in the spinning, by, no doubt, the introduction of the process in 

 practice in Europe to spin perforated cocoons, from its cheapness it 

 would perhaps be advantageously used with wool — especially in stock- 

 ings, it would add softness and gloss without taking from the warmth, 

 the cocoons costing only one rupee, the thread two rupees per seer. 



Although I have been unable to form an estimate of the land taken 

 up on the cultivation of the " hera" or palma-christi, a very rough one 

 could be made of the total quantity of eria silk produced by referring 

 to the population ; it being the daily wear of the poor, and besides, 

 being used by every class in winter. The population is reckoned at 

 455,000*, therefore estimating the yearly consumption of each indi- 

 vidual at the lowest, the total quantity produced would be upwards of 

 1000 maunds, most of this could be exported if it acquired the least 

 additional value by better management, and be replaced by other 

 manufactures and by an increase in the growth of cotton. The pro- 

 duct would keep pace with any increase of demand, for there is hardly 

 a house in the country where these worms are not reared. 



Being acquainted only with central Assam and this district in par- 

 ticular, Upper Assam, the Moamariya country, the Bhotan territories 

 in the plains are left out of these remarks and estimatesf. Although 

 the population assimilates, in many respects they may differ in their 

 different processes. I have used as few local terms as I could except 

 with regard to the tree and plants whose botanical name I have not 

 been able to ascertain. 



P. S. In the within Mr. Hugon has said nothing of another silk 

 worm which was lately discovered on a pipul tree (F. religiosa) — and of 

 the moth of which a drawing accompanies with three or four cocoons, 

 a chrysalis and two moths. This looks very like the mulberry moth, 

 but I am not able to say whether it is or not. The silk looks very fine 



* By the statistical report of 1835, — Kamroop district 280,000 



Dorung ditto, 95,000 



Nowgong ditto, 80,000 



f The population of Upper Assam is estimated at, 220,000 



Moamariya, 50,000 



270,000 

 Toolaram's country, Jyntia, . . , 



Bhotan territory in the plains,. 



r no estimate is ever made. 



