304 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Calcutta. 



the districts of Dinagepore and Rungpore, where the natives real* and breed 

 it in a domestic state, as they do the silkworm. The food of this kind 

 consists entirely of the leaves of the common Ririnvs, or Patma Chriati 

 plant, which the natives of these districts call Arrindy, and is abundantly 

 reared over every part of India, on account of the oil obtained from the 

 seed. Feeding these caterpillars with these leaves will therefore make it 

 doubly valuable, where they know how to spin and manufacture the silk. 

 Their cocoons are remarkably soft, and white or yellowish ; and the filament 

 so exceedingly delicate, as to render it impracticable to wind off the silk : it 

 is therefore spun like cotton. The yam thus manufactured, is wove into a 

 coarse kind of white cloth, of a seemingly loose texture, but of incredible 

 durability. lis uses are for clothing for both men and women ; and it will 

 wear constantly ten, fifteen, or twenty years. The merchants also use it 

 for packing fine cloths, silks, or shawls. It must, however, be always 

 washed m cold water; if put into boiling water, it makes it tear like old 

 rotten cloth. For freight, 10 Cwt. of silk are allowed to a ton. 



Skins. — The skins of tigers and leopards are occasionally brought from 

 India, not in any quantities as articles of trade, but as curiosities, and are 

 used as hammer-cloths for carriages, fire. 



Tiger Skins should be chosen large, of a bright yellow colour, 

 beautifully marked with numerous broad black stripes ; the more in- 

 tense the yellow, and well defined the black stripes are, the more these 

 skins are esteemed. Particular care should be taken that they are well 

 dried, or they will soon decay. They are sometimes met with near four 

 feet long, including the tail. 



Leopard Skins. — These skins are much esteemed in Europe. They 

 are smaller than the former, seldom exceeding four feet in length, including 

 the tail. They should be chosen large, of a lively yellow colour, marked 

 on the back and sides with small spots disposed in circles, well defined, and 

 closely together, the belly covered with longish white hairs, and the spots 

 on the tail large and oblong. 



Spikenard, or Ntrrdus I?tdica r a species of Andropogon, (Gendbe? 

 Hind., Rktistrina^ San.), as brought to Europe, is a congeries of small, 

 tough, reddish brown fibres, forming a bunch about the size of a finger ; 

 it is moderately warm and pungent, accompanied with a flavour not dis- 

 agreeable. It is described as growing in wild and uncultivated countries, 

 and is the common grass which covers the surface of it, growing in large 

 tufts close to each other, very rank, and in general from three to four feet 

 long. The whole plant has a strong aromatic odour ; but both the smell 

 and the virtues reside principally in the husky roots, or lower parts of the 



