478 



Sketches of the Meteorology, 8,c 



[Oct. 



then separated from the seed, either by the gin*, or by a small iron* 

 roller, which a woman moves with her toes on a smooth stone. The 

 latter is on the same principle as the gin, only she feeds it with her 

 hands, and works the iron-roller with her feet. The seed is kept for 

 the cultivator's cattle, or paid, in lieu of money, to the labourers em- 

 ployed in the separation of the seed. The cotton undergoes no more 

 cleaning whilst in the hands of the ryut, but is sent to the market ill 

 this state. 



u The Bourbon cotton is not cultivated in this district." The ryuts 

 say " that a bush of this cotton takes up too much space, — that it 

 would not be so profitable as the common cotton — that, in March and 

 April, when the regur land yawns, the roots would be exposed, and the 

 plants would consequently die — that it would require water in the hot 

 season," &c. &c. Notwithstanding these objections of the ryuts to 

 the cultivation of the Bourbon cotton, I have no doubt, that, in many 

 parts of the district, it would answer well, and prove valuable. The 

 above objections apply only to the regur-land, and to the eastern 

 parts of the district. In all that part of the country which is west of 

 the meridian of Darwar, the plants would receive a sufficient supply of 

 moisture without irrigation ; and, if planted on good mussub soil, they 

 would not be liable to be injured by the yawning of the ground in the 

 hot season, for this takes place only in the regur soil. The plant 

 is perennial, and therefore would not require to be renewed like the 

 common cotton ; and although it does not bear fruit till the third 

 year, yet other articles can be cultivated between the rows of the 

 cotton-plants during the two or three first years, while they are still 

 small. I may only add, that several plants of the Bourbon cotton 

 thrived remarkably well in red gravelly soil in my own garden at Dar- 

 war, without receiving any water, and where the climate is not nearly 

 so moist as that of the country farther to the west. The quality of 

 the Bourbon cotton is very superior to that of the common cotton of the 

 district. 



The common cotton of the Darwar district is of good quality, but is 

 seldom well cleaned. Were a little pains taken to have it well 

 cleaned, it would prove a very profitable article. A candij of 5001b. of 

 clean cotton can generally be bought at Darwar for 62 rupees. Sack- 

 cloth and packing would cost ten rupees; and carriage to Sedasheghuiy 

 the nearest seaport, would cost ten rupees more, making altogether 82 

 rupees for 500 lbs. If we call the rupee one shilling and ten pence, 

 therefore, this cotton could be put on board ship at Sedasheghur, at the 



* This consists of two small wooden rollers, through between which the cotton is 

 drawn, and the seeds are thus left behind. It appears to be similar to the gin used in 

 the West Indies, except that it is turned by the hand. 



