RAW-SILK. 



53 



These feed on the leaves and increase in size daily : (E.) 

 About the beginning of Assin (middle of Septem- ^^^^^^^^^^ 

 ber) they begin to spin, and by the end of that 

 month the goottee is finished, when they are col- 

 lected, and put into boiling water to kill the grub, 

 which otherwise would eat its way out. 



The rearers have advances from the pykars in 

 money, rice, salt, cloth, and other commodities. 

 After the collection the price is settled and the ad- 

 vances adjusted accordingly. The rearers are of 

 no particular caste; but a superstition exists 

 amongst them, that one of the party should keep 

 nee-aum (a ceremony which enjoins daily ablutions 

 and restrictions as to particular food, &c.) for the 

 success of their operations. 



Teerah. 



A smaller goottee, said to be the male of the 

 mooga. The thread represented as finer, but not 

 so easily wound nor so much valued by the 

 weavers. 



Bonbunda. 



The largest of the wild silk-worm. Being found 

 in the forests in its natural state, and not stinted 

 in its food, it attains a greater size than the mooga, 

 and which appears the only difference between 

 them ; but it is scarce. The thread runs easily, and 

 being coarser is more valued on that account by 

 the weavers. The goottee found in its wild state 



is 



