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XXII. A Letter from Father Papin, to Father 
Le Gobien, containing Jome OhferVations up- 
on the Mechanic Arts and Phyfick of the 
Indians. Taken from the Ninth Volume of 
Letters of the lAijfionar y Jefuits, Printed at 
Paris in Odtavo. 
Bengale , Dec.' 18. 1709. 
Reverend Father , 
I N your laft Letter you defire I would commusicatc 
to you fuch Remarks and Obfervations as occur in 
this Country. I wifh my Employment would permit me 
tofatisfyyou on this Subject, according to your defire. 
What I now write is only a Chort Account of what I de- 
fign to fend to you more at large hereafter, if you think 
it worth your Acceptance. 
This Country furnifhes Materials for Mechanic Arts 
and Sciences more than any Country that I know of. 
The Artifants here have wonderful Skill and Dexterity: 
They excel particularly in making Linnen-Cloath 5 which 
is of fuch finenefs, that very long and broad Pieces of it 
may eafily be drawn thro’ afmall Ring. 
If you tare a piece of Muflin into two Pieces, and 
give it to one of their Fine-Drawers to fet it together 
again, it will be impoluble for you to difcover where it 
is joyned, tho you mark it bn purpofe to know it. 
They will place together fo artificially the Pieces of 
Glafs or China Ware, that one cannot perceive it was ever 
broken. 
The it 
