RAW -SILK. 



Xlll 



the progress made in the winding of the silk was lUpurt. 

 satisfactory. They stated, that the natives had 

 become very expert in reeling the silk at once 

 from the pod, and it was hoped their docility 

 would render it unnecessary to send out any more 

 superintendents, the object having been accom- 

 plished. But the Bengal Government, in bringing 

 this report to the notice of the Courts remarked, 

 that although some of the natives had become 

 expert in winding, yet it would require consider- 

 able time to bring the new method into general 

 practice, in consequence of bigotted attachment to 

 ancient customs. At the same time, the utmost 

 endeavours of the Government were promised to 

 bring so valuable an article of commerce to per- 

 fection. 



Besides at Cossimbuzar, buildings on the new 

 plan with furnaces were also erected at Bauleah, 

 Commercolly, and Rungpore. 



The first silks prepared by the new or Italian 

 method were sent to the Court of Directors in 

 1771, and reached England in 1772. 



The report in England * upon this silk was, 



that Mr. Wiss had succeeded to admiration in 

 drawing a tolerable silk from the most ungrateful 

 cocoons, that the sickliest worms under the most 

 * Tatlock. unfavourable 



