1845-46. j ME. riNNIE's TOTJE TEAES IN TINNETEllT, 81 



Southern States ; whilst during his residence in India, 

 he had familiarized himself to a considerable extent 

 with the character of the Eyots, and with the mode of 

 carrying on the Cotton trade in this country. Both 

 these points wiU be largely illustrated in the following 

 paras. ; and as Mr. Finnie was also a man of sense and 

 shrewdness, his own observations, extracted and con- 

 densed from his official letters, will throw considerable 

 light upon the actual condition of the Cotton trade and 

 cultivation in the Madras Presidency; though they 

 may convey a generally unfavourable impression re- 

 specting the possibility of any great improvements 

 being speedily carried out through the aid of American 

 seed or American machinery. 



First season, 1845-46 : Mr. Finnie's first impres- 127 

 sions of Tinnevelly. — Mr. Finnie proceeded to Tinne- 

 veUy in October, 1845. His ostensible objects were to 

 distribute American Cotton seed amongst the Eyots, and 

 to exhibit the working of some small-sized saw gins. 

 It seems also to have been expected that he should 

 cultivate some American Cotton, partly to test the 

 capabilities of the district, and partly to instruct the 

 Natives in the improved method of cultivation. On 

 reaching Tinnevelly however he found that the sowing 

 season was over, and accordingly he could do little 

 beyond recording his first impressions, and submitting 

 a plan of operations to the authorities. As Mr. Einnie's 

 regards the capabilities of the Tinnevelly j"'"';|S'^ 

 district, he appears to have at this time ParLBetum 

 formed a favourable opinion. Both the '^**^" ^' *^^" 

 New Orleans and the Sea Island varieties might, he 

 thought, be grown in Tinnevelly ; — the New Orleans in 

 the vicinity of the hiUs, where it would receive the 

 benefit of both monsoons ; and the Sea Island on the 

 coast, about seven to fifteen miles from the sea, where 

 it would be near enough to enjoy the benefit of the sea 

 breeze, and far enough off to secure a better soil than 

 could be obtained immediately on the* shore. As re- 

 gards the Native cultivation he was less sanguine. The 

 Natives sowed their Cotton broad-cast, frequently with 

 other kinds of produce, and then left it to take its 



