1853-62.] 



CARNATIC : EIGHT DISTRICTS. 



211 



seasonable rains in summer, and lightnings, are said to 

 be injurious to the Cotton plants, by causing the boles 

 to drop off. Before flowers and pods appear, the plants 

 are subject to the ravages of insects." 



Mr. Silver's Report. — In a letter dated 20th February, 326 

 1862, Mr. Silver, the Collector of Tinne- Mr Silver , s 

 velly, reported as follows. " The average letter, 20th 

 quantity of uncleaned Cotton, grown in " Feb " 1862, 

 the district of Tinnevelly during the last three years, 

 was 150,000 candies, of 500 lbs. each. At the close of 

 the past year 1860-61, there were about 44,000 candies 

 of cleaned Cotton in this district, which is selling at 

 102 Rs. (£10 4s.) per candy. There are no obstacles 

 to the spread of Cotton cultivation, but a stimulus 

 seems to be required ; and the cultivation would doubt- 

 less be extended by the following means. 1st, By the 

 Mercantile Firms establishing Agencies for dealing 

 direct with the cultivators in the interior, instead of 

 conducting this part of their business, as they do at 

 present, through Brokers at the port of embarkation. 

 2nd, By constructing better roads, which in my opinion 

 would be the case, if the executive were again placed 

 under the Revenue officers, the District Engineer in- 

 specting and reporting on the nature of the work per- 

 formed." 



Queries of Sir William Denison, with Mr. Silver's 327 

 replies. — Mr. Silver also forwarded to the Madras 

 Board of Revenue, a paper of answers which he had 

 recently drawn up, in reply to certain queries furnished 

 to him by His Excellency Sir "William Denison, Go- 

 vernor of Madras, as regards the Cotton trade at the 

 Port of Tuticorin. These queries, together with the 

 replies, are appended in parallel columns. 



Queries. Eeplies. 



1st. Distance from Tinnevelly Thirty-four miles, 

 to Tuticorin ? 



2nd. Character of the country Bare and open, passing over 

 between the two places ? black soils, rocky ground, and 



deep sand ; there is a made road 

 for only 8 miles out of Tinnevelly, 

 r 2 



