Calcutta.] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE 



303 



fineness : coarse silk often obtaining a higher price than the finer sizes, the 

 demand being regulated by a limited supply of a particular letter, or by an 

 extra consumption in some particular species of manufactured goods, or by 

 some other accidental cause. 



The distance of India is too great to allow speculation upon contingen- 

 cies at home, and consequently prevents special directions being given as to 

 the regulation of sizes in an investment ; but as a general rule, the letters 

 B and C should predominate over the letters A, and the proportion of 

 skein silk should be very trifling ; if a demand for exportation exists in 

 England, it constantly runs on the lower priced silks ; and such has been for 

 the last few years the restriction of foreign houses in this respect, that the 

 export trade has dwindled to nothing. 



When, owing to the above-mentioned causes of limited supply, or extra 

 consumption, a particular letter has secured an exorbitant price, upon the 

 accounts reaching India, all the silk that can be procured of the same size, 

 is immediately hurried home, in the hopes of realizing the same extravagant 

 profit : this expectation has been invariably disappointed, a glut being occa- 

 sioned, while the cause of the consumption has long since ceased, and the 

 neglected letter of the former season now meets a ready sale with the same 

 advantage of price. 



In closing these remarks upon Bengal raw silk, we must note that the 

 greatest care is requisite in packing it for the voyage ; if loosely packed, the 

 outside skeins will rub against each other, and the silk will be cut as if by 

 a knife. Silk in this state is of no value whatever. To prevent the possi- 

 bility of friction, the bales must be packed exceedingly tight and compact. 



The various sizes must on no account be mixed in the same package ; 

 silk so confused will never obtain a due price. Private investments are 

 generally faulty in this respect; and the Company's bales, though generally 

 tolerably correct, are not altogether unexceptionable in this particular. 



There are two other kinds of worms which produce silk in Bengal, 

 viz. the Tussch and Arrindy worms : the former are found in such abun- 

 dance over many parts of Bengal, and the adjoining provinces, as to have 

 afforded to the natives, from time immemorial, a considerable supply of a 

 most durable, coarse, dark-coloured silk, commonly called Tusseh silk, 

 which is woven into a kind of cloth, called Tusseh dooties, much worn by 

 Bramins, and other sects of Hindoos. This substance would, no doubt, be 

 highly useful to the inhabitants of many parts of America, and the south of 

 Europe, where a cheap, light, cool, durable dress, such as this silk makes, is 

 much wanted. This species cannot be domesticated. 



The Arrindy silkworm is peculiar to the interior parts of Bengal, in 



