1842.] Manufacture of Silk in Southern India. 219 



In Mysore, silk is manufactured in much larger quantities, and it ap- 

 pears to be increasing very rapidly. 



The manufacture is almost solely in the hands of the Mussulman 

 population; and averse as the Mussulmans generally are to any field 

 labour, or labour of any kind which requires much bodily exertion, the 

 encouragement of this manufacture requiring but light labour, and only 

 periodical attention, may prove valuable means of making productive 

 a large proportion of the inhabitants of South India. 



The quality of the silk as generally made is very bad, being simply 

 reeled from the cocoons heated in a large earthen pot upon a large, rude 

 reel, with four bars placed immediately over the vessel ; and no attempt 

 is made to remove the useless silk upon the surface of the cocoons, or to 

 keep them clean from dust or dirt, nor to prevent the silk adhering by its 

 gum upon the reel. 



The value of the common silk various from two Rs. to three Rs. per 

 seer of 24 Rs. weight, and it is principally consumed in the country at 

 Wallujapet and Salem, where it is used in ornamenting the borders of 

 cotton cloths, and for weaving into coarse silk cloths; and I believe that 

 its quality is at present too bad to fetch any price whatever in the 

 English market. 



The demand for this inferior silk in the country must be limited ; and 

 it is probable that the only mode of increasing the manufacture is to 

 increase the quality, so as to fit it for exportation to the London market. 



It is well known that silk of good quality can be made in South In- 

 dia, from the fact of the manufacture being carried on at the present 

 time by some European settlers. 



The machinery used in Europe for reeling silk is beyond the means of 

 the natives of India, who are generally very poor, but upon looking 

 over the plan and drawings of these machines, it has occurred to me, 

 that by a simple modification of the machine, I shall be able to con- 

 struct them of cheap materials, upon a plan which may be probably made 

 up by any one, even not a workman, for five rupees. 



It is my intention to construct some reels upon this plan, and having 

 proved their efficiency by experiment, to report again upon the subject, 

 and to forward specimens of the silk manufactured with them. 



The process of reeling silk is simple and easy, and the manipulation 

 though delicate, is not difficult for any native to acquire ; and there can 



