68 Remarks on the Sequel to the [Jan. 



" utque hominibus sedatis et placidis otium est volutabile, nulli finitimo- 

 rum molesti," seem to express. 



The pleasant and salubrious climate, which is attributed to Serica, 

 seems to refer to the climate of Upper Assam. " Comparatively speak- 

 ing, Assam enjoys a far more peculiarly temperate climate with a greater 

 equality of temperature than is general throughout India. The warm 

 weather is very moderate, and throughout the year the nights are cool 

 and refreshing. The mean annual temperature amounts to 67-2 — the 

 mean temperature of the four hottest months amounting to 80, and that 

 of the winter to about 57."* Mr. McCosh describes the climate of 

 Upper Assam as " cold, healthy, aud congenial to European constitu- 

 tions."f 



Serica is described as abounding in groves or forests which are desig- 

 nated " sublucidse," an expression which seems intended to describe 

 the effect produced by the myriads of luminous insects in the jungles 

 of Assam. These insects appear to be far more abundant there than 

 in Bengal : they are described as being seen to " glitter at night among 

 the dark and leafy recesses of the forest trees, or flit with varied motions 

 around their utmost branches, producing an effect so brilliant as to 

 seem almost the effect of magic." % 



The substance, the produce of the trees of these forests, which, after 

 being sprinkled with water, is described as being spun out into the finest 

 threads, is evidently the indigenous silk of Assam. There are six 

 species of silk worms found in that country, namely, the mulberry worm, 

 the eria, the muga or moonga, the kontkuri, the deo mooga and the 

 haumpottonee. The mulberry worm is supposed to have been originally 

 introduced into Assam from Bengal, but the other five are indigenous 

 to the country. Silk is one of the staples of Assam, and the material 

 of which the clothing of the greater portion of the population is manu- 

 factured. The silk from the Eria worm, which is described as being 

 very durable, is worn by the poor at all seasons of the year, and by 

 every class in winter. Dr. Buchanan states " that the native women of 

 all castes, from the queen downwards, weave the four kinds of silk 



* Vide Major Jenkins's Account of Assam in the Bengal and Agra Annual Guide 

 and Gazetteer, 1844. 



f Journal Asiatic Society, Vol. V. p. 195, 

 X Vide Robinson's Assam, p. 125. 



