1848-49.] DISCrSSIOlf OF BE. WIGHT AND ME. FINiaB. 143 



DISCUSSION BETWEEN DR. "WIGHT AND ME. FINJSflE. 



Mr. Finnie to Dr. Wight, 7tli November, 1848 : "I 213 

 have had great difficulties in ginning, but have in- 

 duced many Natives to plant American Cotton." — ■ 

 Having been ordered by the Madras Go- Mr. Kimie's 

 vemment to assist you in fulfilling the te'^^^jj 

 orders of the Coiu-t of Directors "for 6000 Pari.'iietum 

 bales of ginned East Indian Cotton, I have '^^'^'^-p- ^''^• 

 to report that I ginned nine candies last season, and 

 thirty-six candies this season, making forty-five in all. 

 I have however had great difficulties ia the way of pro- 

 curing seed Cotton. Brokers here go themselves to the 

 Ryots to buy the seed Cotton ; so that instead of the 

 Eyots bringing their Cotton to me, as they bring it to 

 you at Coimbatore, I have been compelled to purchase 

 at a high price from the Brokers. The reason of this 

 is obvious. In Coimbatore you are so far from the 

 coast, that there is no local demand ; and the people 

 are only too glad to carry their seed Cotton to your 

 gin-house, where they find a purchaser at once. Tmne- 

 velly however is filled with Chitties who purchase for 

 the European agents ; whilst there are also numbers of 

 Brokers, who gain their living by churkaing the Cot- 

 ton, and who will not see me deprive them of their 

 livelihood without a struggle. I have however got 

 fifty-eight candies of Cotton, cleaned by the churka 

 men ; and I submit that the quality is equal to that of 

 ginned Cotton, whilst the staple is far better, and the 

 cost much less. Then, again, as regards the workiug of 

 the gins I have had considerable trouble. The coolies, 

 who turn the wheels, have hitherto refused to work 

 excepting by the day ; and I have only just been able 

 to induce them to work by contract at three rupees, or 

 six shillings, per 1000 lbs. of seed Cotton, including 

 threshed work. As regards the gins themselves, I 

 should also like to have the benefit of your suggestions ; 

 for, though properly fixed, they will not turn out so 

 much work as yours ; and the most we can do with aU 

 three is to gin 1760 lbs. of seed Cotton per diem. As 

 regards the introduction of American Cotton, about 



