1841.] On the Nurma Cotton of Bundelcund. 827 



successful, those who had contracted for their labour at four rupees a 

 beegah, might have been encouraged to have grown the cotton on 

 their own account and risk. Until the landed proprietors and ryuts 

 can be persuaded to do so, there is little likelihood of India ever being 

 able to furnish the quantity, which America now annually sends to 

 Great Britain. 



I prevailed upon Captain Bayles to receive the engagements at four 

 rupees a beegah, with the view of shewing the Government, and the 

 mercantile community, at what specific cost the American cotton 

 might be produced in Bundelkhund. Unless this was done, it appeared 

 to me, individuals would hold back, from the impossibility of telling 

 what the actual cost of a beegah, or maund of cotton, would amount 

 to, under the " neez," or home cultivation system. The purchase and 

 feeding of cattle, the cost of ploughs, the pay of the ploughmen and 

 establishment, and innumerable other expensive items, were not 

 likely to elicit readily this desirable information. 



As long as Captain Bayles and the American planters cannot make 

 the produce of their mode of culture yield a remunerating value in the 

 market, it is unreasonable to expect, that capitalists will embark in 

 the speculation, or the impoverished landholders and ryuts will relin- 

 quish their system, which, they consider, secures to them at least a 

 subsistence, if not plenty. 



It is worthy of remark that the American cotton, cultivated by the 

 ryuts with their own small-sized cattle and country ploughs, at four 

 rupees the beegah, under the direction of the American planters, was 

 in every respect equal to what was cultivated on account of Govern- 

 ment, with the large-sized cattle, and American imported ploughs, 

 under the superintendence of the planters themselves. This proves 

 that neither a costly plough, nor team of horses, are absolutely neces- 

 sary. The loss which Government must inevitably incur upon the 

 present year's experiment, is, in some measure, repaid by the acquire- 

 ment of this valuable knowledge. For how, or where, could the poor 

 ryuts have supplied themselves with such expensive agricultural ap- 

 pendages, if the successful introduction of this superior description of 

 cotton, depended entirely upon the possession of them. 



It having been ascertained that the means already in possession of 

 the ryuts, will answer for the cultivation of the American cotton, the 



