1845-49.J DE. WIGHt's FOITB TEARS IN COIMBATOBE. 77 



for sale at his gin-liouse before they took it elsewhere, 

 he considered that the plan might be attended with 

 beneficial results. These explanations, he trusted, 

 would prove that the failure to induce the Eyots to 

 cultivate American Cotton did not arise from any want 

 of encouragement, as a ready market and high prices 

 were offered to all comers. 



Contemplated establishment of a number of small 125 

 Farms. — In the early part of 1849, Dr. "Wight con- 

 sidered of a new plan for extending the Dr. wighfs 

 cultivation of the American Cotton amongst letter, 26th 

 the Natives. The principles of the culture pS BMiim 

 he considered to be fuUy established, whilst (1857), p. i89. 

 the practice had been simplified to the utmost. He 

 therefore proposed, after the close of the season 1848-49, 

 to form a number of small Farms, of from twenty to 

 fifty acres each, to be cultivated by hired labour under 

 the direction of Native Maistries, in the hope of 

 familiarizing aU classes of ciiltivators with the im- 

 proved practice, and satisfying them that American 

 Cotton could be cultivated by their own implements 

 with as much care, cheapness, and certainty as the 

 Native plant, whilst the produce was far more valuable. 

 At the same time he contemplated dimioishing the 

 extent of his own Farms, in order to allow of more 

 leisure for superiutending the smaller detached ones 

 above described. Meantime, however, circumstances 

 had arisen which led to his temporary retirement from 

 the Cotton experiment. These will be found narrated 

 in the fifth chapter. But before drawing attention to 

 these matters, it wiU be necessary to review the pro- 

 ceedings of Mr, Finnic in Tinnevelly, to which accord- 

 ingly the next chapter will be devoted. 



