x PREFACE. 
other hand, complain, that having written to India for 
particular Fibres, they are unable to obtain them in any 
quantity. But they can hardly expect that parties abroad 
should keep supplies of little-known articles for such acci- 
dental demands. It is very certain that if but moderate 
encouragement is given to such articles on their first ap- 
pearance in the market, the supply will by degrees become 
very greatly increased ; while of the Fibres which are already 
cultivated, the supply might at once become considerable, 
by sending orders for them before the season of cultivation. 
Indeed, it was observed in a recent Bombay paper, that the 
merchants there had been astonished at the quantity of 
Fibres which had been brought into the Bombay market. 
The subject of Fibres has of late attracted considerable 
attention in India, as the Governor-General has issued 
instructions for the sending to England some of the stronger 
Fibres, both from the Northern and the Southern parts of 
that Empire. The Madras Government has also given direc- 
tions for the investigation of the fibrous materials procurable 
in that Presidency. Dr. Clagham, in a letter dated 13th 
January 1855, states that Mr. Underwood has succeeded 
in separating them at a cheap rate. At Bombay a Com- 
pany has been established for the collection of materials for 
paper-making, while individuals are paying attention to the 
preparation of Fibres. In Sindh and in the Punjab, the 
culture of Flax has been taken up and patronised by the 
Indian Government and the Court of Directors. 
At the conclusion of this volume I have appended some 
Observations on Materials for Paper-making, as well as the 
Report which I wrote at the requisition of the Lords of the 
Committee of the Privy Council for Trade. 
Lonpon ; 24¢h February, 1855. 
