Calcutta. ] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



cordage, &c. such as murgha, kantala, merty-paut, coir, and gumatty: 

 but the principal, and those by far in the greater use, are sunn and paut ; 

 these are cultivated at ComercolJy, Chittagong, Jungypore, &c. 



At Comercolly there are two species of sunn ; the best is called phooJ, 

 the other boggy : the former grows about four feet high, and produces the 

 strongest, whitest, and most durable kind of sunn ; the other grows about 

 seven feet high, but its produce is darker coloured, and not so strong as the 

 phool-sunn. 



In Chittagong very little hemp is raised, except for the purpose of 

 preparing bang. 



In Jungypore there are four species of plants cultivated, which produce 

 different kinds of raw materials, fit for cordage and other uses. The first 

 is called by the natives ghore-sunn, and approaches very near to the hemp- 

 plant. The article next in quality to the ghore-sunn is the paut ; but as it 

 does not grow to the height of above four feet, and shoots out many lateral 

 branches, which render the fibres very difficult to be separated from the 

 woody parts, it is not a profitable article to the landholder : it is in general 

 found near the houses of the inhabitants, the leaves and tender shoots being 

 used as an article of food. The third plant, producing a species of hemp, 

 is called by the natives cooch-murden-paut. The fourth description of 

 plant is called amleeah-paut, and this is in the most general use throughout 

 the country for coarse cordage, and other purposes which do not require 

 the fine twine produced from the ghore-sunn. 



The cultivation of this important plant in our colonies has not only at 

 all times met with encouragement from the Government, but also of late 

 years from the East India Company in Bengal, where extensive experiments 

 have been made in the culture of hemp and flax on their account. The 

 freight is calculated by measurement, allowing 50 cubical feet to a ton. 



Hides are sometimes brought from India, both in a raw and cured 

 state ; but the length of the voyage, and the high rate of freight, prevent 

 their becoming an extensive article of trade, though Bengal, it is conjec- 

 tured, could supply the demand of the home market, if they could be pro- 

 perly cured : but they would never answer when salted, from the high price 

 of salt in Bengal. Freight, 20 Cwt to a ton. 



Horns. — Buffalo horns are generally allowed to pass as dunnage when 

 brought by the commanders of the Company's ships ; but they will not 

 bear the heavy charge of freight. They should be chosen large, free from 

 cracks and flaws, as straight as possible, and in their original state, or they 

 will be subject to the manufactured duty. Freight, 20 Cwt. to a ton. 



Indigo is a dye prepared from the leaves and small branches of a plant, 



T 



