COCOONS OF PURE SILK. 
107 
the byer-tree, which is, at that time, in full 
perfection, and the natives must take a journey 
as they did before,’if they wish to have any of 
the young worms. 
You would think they might spare themselves 
this trouble every year by keeping the moth to 
lay her eggs at home. But they say it is 
quite impossible to prevent her escape. She 
comes out of the cocoon in the middle of the 
night, and even if it is locked up in a box, 
her dexterity and determination are so won¬ 
derful, that she always succeeds in getting 
away. 
The cocoon is placed in a ley, made of plaintain 
ashes and water; and as soon as it is soft enough, 
the silk is reeled off. It is called by the natives the 
Tusseh silk, and is coarse and dark, but very 
strong; and is woven into a cloth that has 
been worn by the Brahmins from time im¬ 
memorial. 
There is another silkworm also found in 
Bengal, called the Jarroo, because the cocoon 
is produced in January, the coldest month in 
the year. This, too, feeds on the leaf of the 
asseen-tree; and is very much like the one 
I have been describing, only that the female 
moth can be prevented from flying away. 
Her partner, however, has never yet been kept 
