220 Manufacture of Silk in Southern India. [No. 123. 



be no doubt that if a few models of the improved machines were distri- 

 buted, and a small establishment set up where they could be seen in use 

 by those who choose to attend to learn the process, that the necessary 

 information would be rapidly disseminated ; for the indigent Mussulmans, 

 in whose hand the manufacture now is, are generally very apt and intel- 

 ligent, and unlike the Hindoo population, are quite sensible of, and ready 

 to appreciate and make use of, the advantages of any improvement. 



The principal difficulty in the improvement of the manufacture was 

 suggested to me by one of these persons now employed in it, which is 

 the difficulty of finding a market for the improved article at a remu- 

 nerating price. 



To produce an improved article, an increased expence must be incurred 

 in labour, attention, and time, while a considerable loss of weight will 

 result from removing the outer part of the floss upon the cocoons, and the 

 dirt and impurities which are now reeled with the silk ; and as the ma- 

 nufacturers possess no capital, and are so poor as to depend for a market 

 upon the spot, they are obliged to sell the silk to the native bukkals, 

 who will not give more than a very trifling increase of price, as the 

 present consumers are not particular about the quality of the material. 



To encourage the manufacture of an improved article, it appears to me 

 that the only way will be to purchase it upon account of government, 

 when it can be shipped to England, and sold as the products of the 

 Bengal government filatures used to be. 



It is not probable that any encouragement to the manufacture would 

 ensue from allowing the Native Revenue Officers to effect the purchases, 

 for it is probable that they would make them at a low rate, and debit 

 the government with a higher, or if the disbursement of the money was 

 not entrusted to their hands, that they would exact a premium from the 

 sellers before they granted acknowledgments for the receipt of the silk 

 upon account of government. 



By appointing an European superintendent, who might travel about 

 the country and examine the quality of the silk prepared, and make 

 the purchases at stated times, disbursing the price himself, much of 

 the objections might be obviated, as subordinate native examiners and 

 purchasers might be employed under him, upon whom a sufficient check 

 might be kept up. 



The government price might at first be fixed very high, as high as 



