314 On the Cotton called " Nurma." [No. 124. 



ground was then hoed, after which common manure was spread over 

 the field by the hand amongst the plants, the weeding and hoeing 

 were repeated at intervals several times. The crop was nearly destroy- 

 ed by small insects, and by frost. The Nurma cotton produced at 

 these villages on this occasion, required the seed to be separated from 

 the cotton by the churkee, or rollers; while the seed of real Nurma 

 cotton from Cholai Muhasur is easily and immediately separated from 

 the seed, merely by rolling it lightly with a wooden pin, or by picking 

 it with the hand. 



3rd Query. — Do the natives largely manure the fields for Nurma 

 cotton ; and is a peculiar manure used ? 



3rd Answer. — This I have written to inquire at Cholai Muhasur. 



4th Query. — At what season is Nurma cotton sown, and in what 

 manner ; when is the crop ready, and after gathering, how is it cleaned ? 



4th Answer. — After the first fall of rain in June, in the same method 

 as country cotton. The crop is gathered about October or November 

 at seven or eight intervals, according to the favourableness of the season, 

 and is cleaned by the hand, or a small wooden rolling pin. The clean- 

 ing is evidently very much neglected, as the Nurma cotton is brought 

 from Cholai Muhasur in the same dirty state as the specimen sent. 

 Before spinning, the Nurma cotton is pulled out for six hours by the 

 fingers, and then is drawn out and dusted by a small apparatus, (or 

 " pinjurs") of a catgut thread struck by a mallet, and is then rolled 

 on small sticks, from which it is placed in paper sheaths to spin off, 

 each sheath having a leather wrapper to give a firm hold, and also 

 to prevent the perspiration soiling the contained cotton. It is spun 

 by very small wheel, having a very fine spindle. 



5th Query. — What is the price of the best Nurma cotton, and to 

 what country is it exported ? 



5th Answer. — Formerly as there was a great demand at Chanderee, and 

 as the supply from Cholai Muhasur was in a degree limited, the Nurma 

 cotton cost Chanderee rupee 1 per seer ; now the demand has so greatly 

 fallen off, that three seers can be had for the same sum. This cotton 

 is alone imported to Chanderee from Cholai Muhasur ; it is not known 

 to be imported into any other place ; for several years Nurma cotton 

 has not even been brought to Chanderee ; the finer cotton Mamoodies 

 being in very little demand, the trade has vastly diminished. Rich 



