1836.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 759 



Dr. Helfer commenced by a series of observations on tbe importance of silk 

 as an article of wearing apparel throughout the globe. He stated that the disco- 

 very of India and China was valuable to the ancient Greeks and Romans, chiefly 

 on account of the precious web of the Bombykia, called Se or Ser, whence the 

 newly discovered countries derived their name of Serira. Justinian, said Dr. H., 

 obtained an insight into the secret of its manufacture from two Persian monks, 

 the first silk being fabricated at Byzantium. Dr. Helfer followed up his sub- 

 ject by stating, that the Sicilians in the time of Roger I. became wealthy by 

 the introduction of silk into Palermo, — that the Venetians acquired riches by the 

 trade of silk with the Levant, and that in our days it is an unlimited source of 

 income to countries cultivating it on a large scale. France alone exported in 

 the year 1820, 130 millions of francs worth of silk, and England consumes an- 

 nually 4,700,000 pounds, for which it is chiefly indebted to foreign countries. 



Dr. Helfer considers India particularly suited for the cultivation of silk, and 

 deems it very interesting and important, that this country possesses already eleven 

 known different kinds of silk-worms, producing in abundance silk of different 

 qualities, and having by this the internal means of providing all Europe with this 

 precious material. He enumerated the eleven different species, of which seven 

 (though silk from them has been manufactured), never have been mentioned 

 before. (The subject was illustrated by the exposition of all the different qualities 

 of silk, the preserved moths, cocoons, chrysalis, and eggs.) Two of tbe silk-worm 

 species, the Tusseh and Arrindy, were known in India, and their silk was consi- 

 dered singular enough in Europe, and regarded as inferior qulity of the mulberry 

 silk-worm, — though Dr. Roxburgh and Dr. Buchanan, had longago published an 

 account of them, which Dr. H. quoted. Two different species were discovered by 

 Dr. H. ; four others were mentioned as problematic, and three other new species 

 sent from Assam by Capt. Jenkins, accompanied by a very interesting memo- 

 randum. Dr. H. deems those sent from Assam exceedingly valuable, as the co- 

 coons which they produce are considered by Mr. W. Prinsep, exceedingly fine. 



Dr. Helfer then, after giving a systematic description of all the new species, 

 went into the question as to whether the silk of India is naturally inferior to 

 that of other countries. He regards the question as undecided, and considers that 

 every thing must depend upon the rearing of the worm ia houses — upon the qua- 

 lity of their food — upon the first chrysalic operations — and upon the manner of 

 working the silk. He proposed that all moths producing cocoons — which, judg- 

 ing by analogy, he computed at upwards of 130 kinds in India, — should be exam- 

 ined, and specimens of raw and wrought silk sent to Europe ; and he thinks it 

 certain, that, by the manufacture of silk on a large scale, a vast revenue will ac- 

 crue to this country. He referred to the value set in Europe upon the coarsest 

 material produced by the Arrindy silk worm. The Doctor concluded his very 

 interesting discourse by narrating a fact communicated by Dr. Glass of Boglipur. 

 It appeared that Dr. G. had sent specimens of the silk to England : when it was 

 shewn to the different manufacturers they answered, that the people in India had 

 been deceiving them by stating that the fine Cashmere shawls are manufactured 

 from the wool of the goat : it was plain to them that the shawls were composed 

 of the silk, and they said, that, with that material, they, the English manufac- 

 turers, could make better shawls than any which came from India. 



The Prtsident, on behalf of the Society, acknowledged their obligations to 

 Dr. Helfer for his interesting paper. 



(We shall hasten to print it when the drawings of Mr. Hudson can be 

 engraved.) 



