146 



OtJRNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON.) 



[Vol. III. 



Cotton is also grown in chenas, tlie seed being placed in the 

 ground along with that of kurakkan, which grows faster, and is 

 removed ere the cotton has approached maturity. The extent 

 of such lands are always estimated by the quantity of seed 

 kurakkan required ; and about four seers of cotton seed are 

 sown with one of kurakkan. The cotton is sown about October, 

 before the monsoon rains set in ; the pods begin to burst in 

 about eight months ; and during the three following months the 

 produce is gradually removed. If the plant be cut down at the 

 close of the season, fresh shoots appear, and a second crop equal 

 to the first is obtained, if the soil be good. From certain memo- 

 randa, collected by a predecessor about fourteen years ago, I 

 glean the following information regarding a piece of cotton 

 soil. 



It measured eight seers of kurakkan, which, as before shewn, 

 is equal to thirty-two of cotton. A man was employed forty 

 days in cutting down the jungle, twenty more in lopping, and 

 twenty-five in burning it, and removing the rubbish. The soil 

 being good, the plants attained a height of six feet. This chena 

 yielded 30 ivelis of cotton in the first season, and this was about 

 four bullocks' load, worth 6s. 8d., per load. The cotton is sold 

 with the seeds unremoved. 



One person will, in a day, clear a welli from its seed, and in 

 four days will spin it into thread. This quantity is sufficient for 

 a piece of cloth ten cubits long, and four spans broad. A weaver 

 will complete this in three days, and receives in payment one 

 and a quarter parras of kurakkan, or half this quantity of 

 paddy. It is to be observed that there is not, and never was, a 

 tax on cotton cultivation, so the above information may be 

 looked upon as tolerably correct. From it we learn, that, in 

 1838, a man's labour was freely given during at least eighty-five 

 days to the working of a chena, the produce of which sold for 

 £1 6s. 8d., winch would give about 3|d. per diem; but the 

 cultivator, after reaping his kurakkan, had to watch the cotton 

 for nearly seven months, and had to collect, dry, and pack the 

 produce. 



