THE TECHNOLOGIST. [July 1, 1864. 



556 TRADE OP CENTRAL ASIA. 



as yet retained the preference of European purchasers. It is said that 

 the weavers in Kashmir are more skilful, their wages lower, and the water 

 and air of Kashmir conservative of the brilliancy of the dyes and the 

 softness of the wool ; and it is certain that the genuine Kashmir shawls 

 far surpass those made in the Punjab, both in beauty of design and 

 fineness of texture. But, on the other hand, it does not appear that the 

 manufacturers in the Punjab have directed their efforts to the fabrica- 

 tion of chefs cPoeuvre. They have as yet found it more profitable to pro- 

 duce a number of coarse shawls. It is in evidence that the quantity of 

 shawl-goats' wool imported iuto Amritsar has for several years past 

 decreased. In its stead sheep's wool from Kirman, in Persia, has been 

 largely introduced into the manufacture of shawls. This wool is fine of 

 its kind, and long in the staple. It is much more easily and quickly 

 worked than the more delicate goat-wool. It is largely used in Persia 

 in the fabrication of jamewars, which have superseded the use of 

 Kashmir shawls in that country. Being more or less mixed up by the 

 Punjab weavers with the genuine pushm, inexperienced persons have 

 some difficulty in detecting the inferiority of the shawls made from it, 

 particularly before they are washed, though the greater weight and 

 coarseness may raise suspicion ; and it was only in the year 1861 that 

 the decided distaste of the English merchants was manifested. At the 

 last auctions there was a fall of from 30 to 50 per cent, in the prices 

 realized ; and the loss thus caused will probably lead to a greater use of 

 goat's wool in the better kind of shawls. 



The silk trade is third in point of value, being nearly 200,000/. This 

 is an important branch of manufacture at Amritsar, and still more so at 

 Lahore and Mooltan ; the raw silk being imported from Kokand, Buk- 

 hara, Balkh, Khulm, Akhcha, Shibberghaum, Andkho, and Kashmir ; 

 from Saidabad, Moorshedabad, Bampoor Baolia, and Radhanagri in 

 Bengal ; and from China, via Bombay. No silk has been imported from 

 Khutan for the last four or five years. The raw silk is sent from 

 Amritsar to all parts of the Punjab for manufacture. Silk fabrics to the 

 value of three lakhs are manufactured at Amritsar. Those imported 

 from Europe, Lahore, Bukh&ra, Bengal, and Benares, are rated at 4,000/., 

 3,500/., 8,500/., and 2,500/. respectively. 



Raw silk is the great staple import by way of Kabul, and pushmina 

 fabrics from Kashmir ; and these items exceed half the value of the 

 trade of both countries. Nearly one lakh's worth of fine wool comes 

 from Bukhara by way of Kabul ; about the same value of dried fruits, 

 half a lakh's worth of madder, a quarter of a lakh of drugs and spices, 

 together with a few bales of Bukhara silk cloths ; gold thread from 

 Russia, and a little saffron from Persia. 



PRINTED BY M'GOWAK AND BANKS, GREAT WINDMILL STREET, HAYMARKET. 



