48 



COTTONWOOL. 



Letter island, that they entertain no doubt of there beino- 



roiii Bombay, ' j o 



30 May 1812. much land on Salsette which, according to the 

 description contained in the printed directions for- 

 warded by your Honourable Court, is well suited 

 for the cultivation of cotton, as all the soil in the 

 hilly districts seems to be of that nature ; that 

 Bourbon plants of cotton are partially flourishing 

 in hedge-rows and elevated spots where the earth 

 is free, but notwithstanding this favourable cir- 

 cumstance, every attempt that has been made to 

 cultivate this production on Salsette has failed. 

 Doctor Scott, a proprietor of land in the island, 

 had once many acres in cotton, but after a few 

 years he gave up the cultivation ; and they have 

 been given to understand that it has since been 

 tried by the late Ordasee Dady and Hormasjee 

 Bomanjee, also proprietors of land there, who 

 have both expended much money with no better 

 success. 



57. These failures are attributed to the same 

 cause as those which have rendered many of the 

 agricultural speculations in India abortive. The 

 Hindoo labourer will never yield any adequate 

 return for his wages when employed in agricul- 

 tural concerns, even with the utmost vigilance of 

 the farmer. The severe labour of working the 

 soil, and every other duty incident to this calling, 

 require a very strong interest to induce that atten- 

 tion to it which is absolutely necessary. This is 

 entirely wanting in the day-labourer ; nor is there 



any 



