378 CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS. 
from the North-Western provinces, from whence the suc- 
cessful example may spread to other parts. As Jute has 
come to be an important article of commerce for textile pur- 
poses, so I believe that several other fibres might become so, 
as they have also the characteristic of fineness with the pro- 
perty of being spun, and that much more easily than either 
the Plantain or Pine-apple fibre, employed for textile purposes 
by the islanders of the great Indian Ocean.] 
“ But, if we require fibres possessed of all, or even more than 
the strength of Russian or of Polish Hemp, we shall find this a 
property, not only of the Hemp of the Himalayas, but of the 
various Nettles which clothe the foot of these mountains, from 
Assam to the Sutlej; and if we pay a price proportioned to the 
quality of the article, I have no fears but that the supply will 
increase in proportion to the demand. If we want them still 
cheaper than they can at present be furnished, we have only to 
supply the cultivators with some simple machinery, by which 
the fibre may be separated more easily than by the present 
primitive methods. In that case I feel assured that the Rheea 
fibre will not only undersell every other fibre, but, in point of 
strength, take a position which will be second to none of those 
which are at present imported. India is in many respects so 
well suited to the growth of fibres, that the supply not only of 
this, but of many others, may easily become more abundant 
than from any other country. 
“Tn addition to affording such facilities, I hope the day is 
not distant when something will be done to encourage, instead 
of depressing the efforts of planters and colonists when they 
send a new thing to market. Because some account of the pro- 
perties and value of the article as suited to different purposes 
would be more encouraging than a statement that it is of ‘no 
value’ because ‘unknown in the market.’ While the fact 
very often is that the substance is well known in many mar- 
kets, though not in the one to which it has unfortunately been 
sent. I feel confident that the Collections of Raw Products 
which are being established will have considerable effects ; but 
they should be multiplied so as to extend to every large com- 
mercial town, or at least to the principal sea-ports; and as in 
the city, time is counted by minutes, I would have one in the 
very heart of the city. But to be fully useful such Collections 
