66 DIRECT DENEl'ITS FROM MOTHS. 



singular blessing bestowed by Providence on man, 

 by simple and natural means. 



All the silk produced in Europe, and tlie greater 

 proportion of that which is so extensively manufac- 

 tured in China, is the produce of the common Silk- 

 worm, the larva of Phalcpna (liomhijx) mori. In 

 India, great quantities are procured from the cocoon 

 of the larviB of moths of different species. The 

 most productive of these is the Tussch and Amndy 

 Silkworms. They are both inhabitants of Bengal. 

 The first of these, the Pliala'na, (Attocus I'upkio. of 

 Linnaeus,) has been found so plentifully from time 

 immemorial, as to have furnished an abundant and 

 constant supply of coarse, dark-coloured, strong silk. 

 This is woven by the natives into a cloth, which 

 they call Tusseh-doot-hies — a favourite and durable 

 attire of the Brahmins, and several other sects. It 

 has the advantage of being both a light and cool 

 wear ; and, from the length of time it lasts, it proves 

 in the end to be remarkably cheap. It is singular 

 that this useful commodity has not found its way 

 into the south of Europe, or the intertropical coun- 

 tries of America, being admirably fitted for these 

 climates. This is a proof, among many which 

 might be adduced, of the tardy progi'ess of improve- 

 ment, proceeding too frequently from a bigoted 

 admiration of ancient customs. 



The silk of the Tusseh Womi is durable in a 

 remarkable degree ; for it discovers but little symp- 



