322 MODE OF CLEANSING. 



and other extraneous matter, and which is the 

 next part of the process it has to be submitted to 

 before it is in a fit condition to be spun into 

 thread. 



The instrument employed for this purpose is 

 called dug gar, and is a large bow, the extremities 

 of which are connected by a strong line of catgut. 

 The cotton to be operated upon is placed in a 

 clean soft hide spread upon the floor, whilst a 

 woman, kneeling, holds the bow T in the left hand 

 over the cotton, so that the string is just high 

 enough to catch the topmost fibres, whilst with the 

 other hand, in which she holds the smooth curved 

 neck of a gourd-shell, she continually keeps twang- 

 ing away, each vibration of the string scattering 

 and throwing up quantities of the lighter filaments, 

 whilst all heavier matter sinks, as if in a fluid, to 

 the bottom. The finer portions, upon the summit 

 of the heap, as it appears satisfactory, is taken off, 

 and placed carefully in a large covered basket made 

 of mat, and a fresh supply of the unclean cotton is 

 added to the heap in the ox skin, when the twang- 

 ing process goes on again for a short time longer 

 until another interval marks the removal of more 

 of the approved material into the aforesaid covered 

 receptacle. An instrument, exactly the same as 

 the daggar, is used in England by hat-makers, to 

 clean wool and fur for hats. 



After the cotton has been cleansed in this 

 manner, the ox skin is removed, and the dirt 



