APRIL — JUNE, 1857.] Olscrvations on Cotton. 121 
It is replied that the Hindoos would work, notwithstanding holi- 
da3's, were they liberally encouraged by resident Englishmen up 
the country, instead of being under native agents, ^Yho most proba- 
bly sell the best Cotton to weavers on the spot, and only forward 
the less saleable to the coast. As the Company cannot now en- 
gage in commercial specjilations, the tenure of their charter induces 
every encouragement to speedy local improvements. It appears 
that the ultimate buyers, residing entirely on the coast, have no- 
thing to do with its production or transport, and purchase it only 
as an article of ^peculation or remittance ; so that the exporter has 
no direct interest in its original improvement. In quality the 
Indian wool compares most nearly with the finest American, and 
could its staple be a little improved, would rival it in the Briiish 
market. "It is likewise distinguished," observes Dr. Royle, ''from 
the American short-stapled cottons for some good qualities. The 
first of these is colour, by which yarn and cloth in which it is em- 
ployed are much improved in appearance. The second is the 
swelling of its thread, which, when the cloth is bleached enables 
the intermediate vacancies to be filled up, giving the whole a more 
substantial appearance. The third good quality is that in dyeing it 
takes the colour more uniformly than other Cottons. The best qua- 
lity of the Bombay Cottons are those from Broach and Surat, ^Yhich 
in good seasons, are found to be equal to middling-bowed Georgia. 
With respect to long-stapled Cottons, the presumption is tliat they 
can be grown in India of an equally fine texture with tliose of 
America." 
The improved East India Cotton will probably, for some time to 
come, be bought up and manufactured on the spot, as but little of it 
has yet reached England, and must on its arrival compete with 
American. A large proportion of it is likely to find a better market 
in China. The averages of five years up to 1841-2 give only 
66,000,000 lbs.* as exported to Britain, and 90,00#,000 lbs. to 
China. The largest quantity obtained from India is but one-sixth 
of our consumption, and of this above one -third appears to be re- 
exported from London. 
* Anti-Slavery Reporter for October 1S4-5, page 182. 
