822 



A letter to the Secretary to the Asiatic Society, on the Narma Cotton 

 of Bundelcund, from J. G. Bruce, Esq. 



In compliance with a letter from the Secretary to the Government, 

 North- Western Provinces, regarding the Nurma cotton produced in 

 Malwa, and requesting I would furnish you direct with any inform- 

 ation which I might possess on the subject, I have the pleasure to 

 inform you, that the Nurma cotton, of which the fine Chundellee cloths 

 are 'manufactured, is the produce of a shrubby perennial, cultivated 

 in the vicinity of Chunderee, to the extent required for the fabrics 

 of that place. I never heard of any being grown for exportation 

 in its raw state. 



The piece goods manufactured at Chunderee, I beg leave to 

 inform you, consist principally of costly cambrics, turbands, and 

 seylahs^ or waist bands : these were of so beautifully fine a texture, 

 that some of the higher numbers sold for two hundred rupees a piece, 

 and were used by the Native princes and noblemen. 



Although the Chundellees are so much dearer than the Europe 

 cambrics, the Native princes give the former the preference. It is 

 said to be more durable, and keeps the body cooler in the hot sea- 

 son, from the quality it is said to possess, of more readily imbibing 

 respiration. Had it not been for this preference, the manufacture 

 of the Chundellees would long since have been discontinued. 



When I came to Calpee in 1808, I found some few plants of the 

 Nurma cotton in the " Nuzzer Baug" garden, belonging to the Jallone 

 Rajah. They had been sown before the seat of his government had 

 been removed from Calpee in 1804 or 1805, to supply him, and his 

 household, with the Brahminical* thread worn by the Brahmins (the 

 Rajah himself was one) and higher castes of Marhattas. The cotton 

 which these plants bore was beautifully soft, and of a good staple. I 

 cannot, at this distance of time, distinctly recollect whether it was 

 the smooth black, or downy grey seeded ; but, as far as my memory 



* The Nurma cotton was, no doubt, choseii for its length, strens^th, and fineness of 

 fibi-e. Moor, in his Hindu Pantheon, page 379, says, " The Zennar is composed of three 

 threads, each measuring ninety-six hands (cubits) ; they are twisted together, and 

 folded into three; then twisted again, making it to consist of nine threads : these are 

 again folded into three, without twisting, and each end fastened with a knot. Of these 

 Zennars, a Brahmin wears four; the other privileged tribes three." 



