Nothing would appear to be more easy than to provide but useful for a variety of purposes, of split bamboos. the same, or an efficient substitute, if we look at the The most famous mats are, however, made of the split various basts which have been sent from different parts Cyperus tegetum, in Bengal, and of the same or a similar of India, as, for instance, that of the Beemul, from as far species, C. textilis in the Indian peninsula, but the kind north as the Deyra valley, and the Butteah, from the especially called seetul pateer, or cool mats of Bengal, are Assam valley. But, for the purposes of foreign com-made of the Phrynium, now Maranta dichotoma. This, merce, those from Akyab, the seaport of Arracan, seem as well as the former, is well adapted for platting of all most desirable, as they are abundant, cheap, and easily kinds. divisible into fine, pliant, and knot-tying fibres. Some sent to the Chiswick-gardens of the Horticultural Society were favourably reported upon. The retail price of several, even when twisted into rope, in Akyab, is one rupee per maund, that is, three shillings per cwt. For this sum, therefore, they might be put on board ship; and if bast, even when twisted into rope, we may ask why not paper stuff at about the same sum. Various experimental fibres have been sent from Calcutta for £3 | and £4 per ton for freight. The rapidity with which the exports from Akyab have increased is something re-highest textile purposes. markable. The value of exports in These bags are made by cutting a branch corresponding to the length and diameter of the sack wanted. It is soaked a little, and then beaten with clubs until the inner bark separates from the wood. This done, the bark is turned inside out, and pulled down, until only a small piece of it remains attached to the wood, which is to form the bottom of the sack, and from which the remainder is then sawn off. If we look at the immense mass of the fibrous matter, and the white colour of the inner layer, and how the fibres of the several layers cross each other, one cannot but be struck with the apparent fitness of the whole for being beaten into half-stuff for paper-makers; and regret that so much valuable material must be lost, when only the thick part of the branches is made use of for making these sacks for holding rice. TWINE AND CORDAGE MATERIALS. Though I have arranged the several fibres under what are apparently useful heads, it is evident that the arrangement is an arbitrary one, for some may be used for each and all other purposes to which such material is applicable. These are, therefore, arranged rather according to their present appearances than to what they may be ultimately brought, as there is no doubt that preparation will convert a bast into a cordage fibre, and a still more careful process, bring it to a state fitting it for the The Pita or Having before given a detailed account of the great variety of cordage materials procurable in India, I need not do more than refer to some of the new fibres, or to old ones from new situations, which were sent to the Paris Exhibition, and select those for remark which seem the most likely to become extended articles of commerce. In the first place, we have seen that the grass called Moonja is employed both on the Ganges and Indus rivers for tow ropes, and a kind of cotton-grass for making bridges in the Himalaya. Though coir rope is well-known, the black Ejoo deserves to be equally so, from its great strength and incorruptibility under water. Agave, commonly called aloe, is used both in mines and for the rigging of ships in the New World. The plant has become common in, and is well suited to the dry parts of India. This is also indicated by specimens sent from different and distant parts of the country. Ropes made of it are coming into use among the natives, and the fibre might be obtained to a considerable extent. It has been said that it is liable to rot when exposed to wet, but this is not found to be the case in South America. will depend upon how experiments are made, for if the mucilaginous parts of fibres are not sufficiently separated, and a bundle of fibre or rope is macerated in a tub of water, or exposed to wet in a warm climate, fermentation will take place and decomposition ensue. All which would not be experienced if the fibre was cleaned in running water, and then exposed to wet and afterwards to dry or moist air. In experiments tried at Toulon, Calcutta and Madras, Pita ropes were found to Some bast has been imported from Arracan by Major Lyell, but it is difficult to find a purchaser for a new ar-possess great strength. ticle. It is, however, of good quality, as the layers, when separated, tie knots well. One ton of Gharoo fibre, or rather bast, has been sent from Malacca, to have its value ascertained, as large quantities could be procured there. The gharoo is known in commerce; but it is the wood of this tree in its decayed state, which is well known as the high priced lignum aloes, so valued as incense. The bast has been sent both in its twisted and untwisted state. It is a mass of lustrous fibre, of great tenacity. PLATTING AND MAT-MAKING MATERIALS. Much Pine-apple and marool fibres, though fitted for better purposes, have also been made into rope, and some of the former, made into a rope, 3 inches in circumference, bore 57 cwt., though the Indian Government require ropes of that size to bear only 42 cwt. Manilla hemp is now well known as a fibre able to bear great strains, and its rope, therefore, is much used for the rigging of ships, as well as in warehouses. The plantain being, like it, a species of Musa, it has been supposed that its fibre might be turned to useful account, especially as the plant is grown in such vast abundance on account of its fruit, and the fibre is an annual refuse. There is no doubt that much useful fibre may be obtained from this plant, and of which cordage may be made, applicable to a variety of ordinary purposes, especially if carefully prepared, that is, without steeping in water, but by simple pressure and scraping. Indeed, a twelve-thread rope of plantain fibre, made in India, broke with 864 lb., where a similar rope of pine-apple fibre broke with 924 lb. These being, like the basts, bulky material, and of low price, cannot be expected to pay the expenses of freight, therefore, few observations will suffice to show the abundance of materials. India has long been famous for its mats, as the people produce some of the finest known, which are often to be admired for the elegance of the patterns with which the material is coloured and woven. Mats being suitable both for sitting or sleeping on the As it is desirable to know the quantity of fibre which ground, and especially pleasant in hot weather, are made may be obtained from a certain quantity of ground, we of all qualities and prices for different classes of society. may refer to the results of experiments which have been Thus, some are made of grasses, and others of the Bul-recorded, though all require to be carefully reported:1792 lbs. per acre rush, in different parts of India; some of the leaves of the Kaldera bush or screw pine; many of the Cadjan or dried leaves of the Palmira tree; some stiffer in nature, New Zealand Flax ...... ...... .................. 1613 to 3226 lbs. in two crop 1800 to 2500 lbs. per acre. The production of fibre of this quality is not confined to the western coast of the peninsula. Some equally good is produced in some other districts, for instance, the Janapa naroo of Ganjam, and the so-called hemp and flax from Goomsoor; and it has also been sent of excellent quality, long and well-cleaned, from Chota, Nagpore. This is very similar to Mr. Williams's Jubbulpore hemp, which I formerly showed, and as yielded by Crotalaria tenuifolia; and, though Jubbulpore is far in the interior, Mr. Williams sends it to Calcutta, and even to this country. Even still further in the interior, we have a very excellent specimen of the same kind of fibre from the Punjab, and which was sent as the packing of some large models from Lahore. It has been calculated that with appropriate machinery, moreover adds, that there are thousands of acres unin suitable localities, the expenses of obtaining such occupied, but which are well fitted for the culture of this fibres ought not to exceed from £9 to £10, and that they plant, as the soil is exactly similar to that of the places might then be landed in England from £13 to £16 per ton. where it now grows. All the low land fit for rice cultiThe preceding observations refer to the fibre of endo-vation has been long taken up. This is a district which genous plants, but those of exogens are equally, if not runs for many miles along the west-coast. more valuable, for almost all the purposes to which fibres are applied. Already we have seen among the basts, a number of barks which have been merely stripped from trees and twisted into strong, and for many purposes very serviceable ropes. We have here a sufficient number of them to convince you of the abundance as well as of the goodness of such materials. But it would not be difficult greatly to extend the number, for several families abound in plants having barks possessed of similar properties. Besides these basts, there are numerous fibres which are sufficiently separated from each other to be twisted into yarn, and subsequently into ropes. They are all possessed of sufficient strength and flexibility to permit their being well fitted for ordinary, but some of them may be for any purposes to which fibres are applied. But I think it preferable to confine myself to two or three only of these fibres, in order that the attention of manufacturers may be concentrated on them, so that planters in the East may be induced to give their exertions to the extended cultivation and improved pro- | perties of those fibres which seem most likely to respond to the demands made on them for quantity or quality, or both combined in one. I do not at present refer to the jute, of which so many thousand tons are yearly imported, nor to the sunn of Bengal, which has been so long used as a substitute for hemp. Of this the peculiarities seem to me to depend as much upon the mode of preparation as upon the peculiarities of the plant. But I would beg to call attention to two or three fibres which may or may not be produced by different plants, but which have been several times picked out by practical men as good substitutes for hemp, and perhaps also for flax. As these last localities are far in the interior, it might be supposed that there would be difficulty in procuring these fibres. There is, however, a very excellent one, which has been unaccountably neglected, as it may be obtained even in Bengal. That is the Dhunchee (Sesbania aculeata) which is cultivated there, and forms a coarse but strong substitute for hemp. Ropes made of it have the objection, for some purposes, of contracting. The price is usually under that of jute; in the interior about 3s. per cwt. Excellent specimens of Dhunchee rope have been sent from Calcutta ; some, having been submitted to various experiments, has been so satisfactorily reported upon, that the fibre appears to me well worthy of being imported, as well as the fine specimens of what is here called Brown hemp. We may now proceed to notice the new specimens of the true hemp, or Cannabis sativa. In my former lecture I called attention to what was considered one of the strongest of fibres, and which I called Kote Kangra These may be arranged under the head of the Brown hemp, as it was supposed to be the produce of the true hemp of Bombay. This, it is curious to note, is pro- hemp from the newly acquired portion of the Punjab duced by two different plants: one, the Ambaree (Hibiscus Himalayas. From the representations made to them, cannabinus) or Deckanee hemp, and the other the Tag the Court of Directors of the East India Company (Crotalaria juncea) or Conkunee hemp. Though the fibre ordered that from five to ten tons, as convenient, should of this last plant, as prepared in Bengal, is totally dif- be sent to this country from Kemaon, the Deyra Doon, and ferent from that of the other, yet, as prepared in the Kote Kangra, it order that the cultivators might have west of India, there is a great similarity between them. some inducement to grow the plant, and that manuThis, I have already stated, is shown in fibres sent from facturers here might become acquainted with the proBombay on former occasions. It is found in two spe-perties of the Himalayan hemp, so that it might become cimens sent from Sattara; one is the Ambadee (Hibis-known to, and established in, the market here. The cus cannabinus), much used there for ropes, and the least experiment has not, as yet, been very successful. troublesome to prepare, costing about nine pie per lb. ; and the other is the Tag (Crotalaria juncea), used both for sacks and ropes, but costing about 11 pie per lb. Both are well adapted for cordage, as is also the Janapa, the same Crotalaria juncea from the Malabar coast, which has always been famous for the excellence of its fibres. First, of 171 packages of hemp fibre received vid Bareilly from the Assistant-Commissioner of Kemaon, it was reported by the master attendant in Calcutta, that the whole was more or less damaged from having been wetted by fresh water, so that one-third was entirely destroyed; but the rest having been carefully garbled, aired, and dried, was compressed into twentysix bales. Of these twenty-three were in good order and three slightly damaged. Some specimens are here, and all will shortly be sold by Messrs. Noble. The district of Canara, which, indeed, is only a prolongation of the same Malabar coast, has sent some specimens of fibre which have been much admired for the fineness, strength, and clean state of preparation of the fibre. They have been sent without any in- The next import of this true hemp from the Himaformation respecting them. One is the Naroo, or the layas, was grown in Mandoo and Kooloo, in the Kangra fibre probably of the Crotalaria, and the other is the district. There was some difficulty in collecting it, in Poondy naroo, perhaps the above Hibiscus. So, further consequence of its being the first occasion, and theredown the same coast, we have the Wuk naroo, in fore it was not ready for despatch until the beginning Travancore, which might, even in the state in which of the rainy season. Somewhere about two tons were it is sent, be used at once as a substitute for flax. sent down the Indus to Kurrachee, from whence it was That there would be no difficulty in obtaining this forwarded to Bombay, all by water-carriage. Unforfibre in considerable quantities from Canara, is evident tunately this, like the Kemaon sample, got wetted, and from a statement recently made by the collector of this therefore damaged in transit. It was, therefore, condistrict, that is, he has "a full belief that, if there sidered doubtful whether it was in a fit condition to should be a steady demand for this hemp for two or send to England. Its quality, however, on being tested three years, it would become one of their staple in Bombay, was found to be greatly superior to what products, instead of being cultivated in small quantities was expected, and it was carefully sent in a cabin from only for fishermen to make their nets and lines." He | Bombay, but not having been pressed, its freight has cost more than it was worth. It is valuable, however, as the first specimen that has been imported, and we have it here to judge of the probable value of this new source of hemp. One important fact is mentioned in the correspondence, and that is, that fleets, instead of single boats, now navigate the Indus, and that the freight by them had been reduced from R. 1 2 to 10 annas per maund,* from Lahore to Kurrachee. TEXTILE FIBRES. are both employed for textile purposes, we will next notice the attempts which have been made to produce flax in India. FLAX AND LINSEED. Of the great abundance of the flax plant in India we have a sure proof in the increasing quantities of linseed which are yearly exported from India. Thus, in 1851, 93,814 cwt., and in 1854, 362,882 cwt., were imported into this country. Many have thought that, as India produces so large a quantity of linseed, and no flax, there must be a great waste of useful material. There is no doubt some truth in the former statement, but not nearly to the extent that is supposed; for, in consequence of the mode of culture and the peculiarities of climate, the stem is short and branching, producing much seed and a little coarse flax, which is separated with difficulty, from the branching nature of the plant. The appearances, indeed, seemed so favourable, that a company was established by men acquainted with India: a Belgian cultivator, and Belgian preparer of flax, were sent to Bengal. Though flax was produced-said to be worth from £40 to £60-no permanent effect was produced, though it was said to have cost one experimentalist only from £12 to £15, and who ought to have succeeded, as he says that the expenses of cultivation were paid for by the seed; but others state that it cost £31 and £32 a ton. I cannot, however, think that which is done successfully in Egypt is impossible in every part of India. Indeed, I was of opinion that it might be successfully produced in Sangar and Nerbuddah territories, in consequence of the soil and climate being such as will probably suit the plant, deficiency of moisture being seldom complained of. But I have not heard the results of Mr. Williams' proposed experiments. Some of the finest linseed having been produced in the neighbourhood of Saharampore, in 30 degrees of north latitude, and some flax which was grown from this seed having been highly thought of at Liverpool, it was determined to have an experimental culture under Dr. Jameson, who so successfully conducts the cultivation and manufacture of tea. Here there is a variety of climates, as in the plains at the head of the northern Doob, in the Door valley, and on the hills themselves. In Mr. Yates's admirable work, entitled "Textrinum Antiquorum," there is a map of the ancient world, according to the raw materials principally produced in it for weaving, and it may serve to give an idea of the extent and variety of India to state, that it embraces all the raw materials which are considered to characterise the divisions of the ancient world. Thus, camel's wool and goat's hair in Sindh, sheep's wool in north-west India, and with hemp in the Himalayas, are all worn, as silk is in Assam, and cotton all over the plains of India. In addition to these, we might add a number of vegetable fibres used for textile purposes. Thus, jute, sunn, and ambaree, are three different fibres which are woven into cloth in different places. So the white fibres of the moorva, or Indian bow-string hemp, are woven into muslin-like fibre, so abundant in the jungly salt soils of the coast; this is still more the case with the pine-apple, which, from its fineness, and the abundance in which the plant occurs, is invaluable; for instance, in the neighbourhood of Singapore, and in the adjacent islands, there are said to be thousands of acres covered with this plant, and there the plant grows so readily, that the supply may be considered inexhaustible. It is named pigna by the Spaniards of the Philippine Islands, from the resemblance of its fruit to the cone of a pine tree. Hence the name of pina cloth, sometimes called batiste d'ananas, which we sometimes see richly-embroidered by the nuns in the convents of Manilla, Both names are interesting, the one as characteristic of the cloth, and the other of the plant which yields one of the kinds of fabric which is made and exported from the Philippine Isles, and which is characterised by its muslin-like character, though somewhat wiry in feel, and apt to become of a brownish hue. There is yet another kind of fabric which, unfortunately, is by some also called pina cloth, but which I cannot believe to be produced by the pine-apple, as the fibres are broader, softer, and have a lustrous appearance. I have been unable to obtain any positive information respecting the source of this fabric, but I believe it to be the pro- The Agricultural Society of the Punjab first produced duce of the same plant as that which yields Manilla hemp, some flax in the winter of 1853-54. Samples of this for we are told that the plant called Abaca (Musa textilis), having been sent to Calcutta it was pronounced to be the is grown to a considerable extent; that the outer layers finest flax that had been grown in the country. The yield fibre fitted for cordage, and the inner ones for Indian Government having been applied to, authorised weaving. into fabrics, such as web cloths, which are de- through the Society that prizes should be given for the scribed as having lustre, softness, and white colour. The largest area of land cultivated with the flax plant, and fibres for fine weaving are rendered soft and pliable by also the purchase of the entire crop of merchantable flax, beating them with a wooden mallet. I am further con- as well as of the seed, at the current Bazaar rate; if no firmed in the correctness of this opinion, from the fibres purchasers should present themselves. Directions were of the plantain, which is a species of of musa, when care-published and distributed, and preparations made for the fully prepared, having a glossy and silk-like appearance. Dr. Hunter found that all steeping in water is injurious, and that it is better to separate it by pressure and scraping at once, and the more carefully it is cleaned the stronger is the fibre, and more glossy. As I formerly dwelt upon the great importance of preserving the fibre of the plantain, which is so extensively cultivated for its fruit, which, if too abundant, we may preserve, when ripe, or prepare plantain meal from it before it is quite so, I believe that not only will the fibre be useful for cordage for ordinary purposes, but a part may be employed for textile purposes. Though jute in the plains, and hemp in the Himalayas *The maund is considered equal to 82lbs. The rupee is equivalent to 2s. It contains 16 annas, each anna being 12 pie. The report has not been yet received, but in a private letter I lately received from him he stated that they had succeeded completely in the cultivation of the plant, but had failed in the separation of the flax. This is a thing that can be easily remedied. reception of the large quantities of flax which were expected to be brought to Lahore. The Society was also authorised to rent some land, which was to be cultivated under their own inspection, and the flax prepared by a European who had had some practical experience of the preparation of flax in Europe. On application, some specimens of tools were sent over, as well as European seed, small quantities by the overland route, but the larger quantity by sea, and of different kinds, as Riga, Dutch, American, English, and Irish, purchased from the highly-respectable house of Wrench and Co., of Londonbridge. Among the results of this experiment, it is observed, in the Society's Report, "In the course of the experiments of the past season, both as regards cultivation and preparation of flax, numerous facts, of more or less im portance, have been elicited. For instance, it is found that much, if not all, of the linseed of Central India bears a white instead of a blue flower, and that the seed also differs materially. Also, that the flax of suitable Indian localities, though from Indian seed, is capable, if properly sown and plucked at the right time, of pro-was formerly seen in the fibres prepared by Mr. Dickson.. ducing excellent fibre, and with a moderate degree of manipulation." This, indeed, seems to be the only proper course to pursue, for it would hardly be possible to establish any extensive culture, if it was necessary to import seed from Europe. The attempt to induce the natives of the Punjab to cultivate linseed on a large scale and to produce flax, seems to have been as successful as could reasonably have been expected. For the breadth of land under culture increased from 3,453 acres in 1853-54 to 19,039 acres in 1854-55. But though the Government had offered to buy all the seed, if no other purchasers offered, yet of the 150,000 maunds of seed which were calculated to have been produced, only 11,300 maunds were brought to be purchased by Government, the rest having been bought up by native merchants. The net outlay by Government up to January, 1856, having been Rs. 29,657 15 7, and the year's proceeds Rs. 33,150 14 3, giving a net surplus of Rs. 3,444 8 4. Such a favourable result, in the first year of an experiment, was, no doubt, due in part to the unusually high prices prevailing during the war with Russia. The seed was, no doubt, of a good quality, as is most Indian linseed, from the quantity of oil it yields. Some of the natives of Punjab having been in the habit of separating fibre flax on their own account, and so large a breadth of land having been sown, on the government engaging to purchase all the seed and also fibre that was produced, if no other purchaser offered, it was expected that a very large quantity of fibre would have been produced. Preparations were made by the Agricultural Society to receive it, and their Secretary wrote to different Chambers of Commerce, informing them of the expected out-turn of flax from this new locality. These anticipations were not, however, realised, for the fibre which was brought in was small in quantity, though some of it was of good quality. The straw brought in amounted only to 2,365 maunds, some of it green, some dry; about half had to be thrown away, and only 110 maunds of merchantable flax were produced, and this was bought by Messrs. Harton, rope-makers, for eight rupees a maund, and sent down to Calcutta. Indeed, it was hardly to be expected, that men who had been in the habit of thin sowing a plant for seed, would all at once sow it thickly enough to produce good fibre, especially as prizes were to be given for breadth of culture. I myself had in some measure anticipated this result, for I stated, "But while the best method of culture will be ascertained by the Society, on their own cultivation, it is feared that the length of stems required (3 feet 6 inches) will exceed much of what may be grown by the natives (Indian Fibres, p. 196). There is, however, a favourable prospect of the successful culture of fibre in the Punjab. None of the specimens of flax grown have yet reached the India House. But I have a small sample of flax grown by Mr. Wagentreiber, in Upper Assam, and another sample sent by the Dundee Chamber of Commerce, which is said to have been prepared from straw grown 800 miles from Calcutta (though it is not said in what direction). The Directors consider that fibre, of the quality of the sample, would be useful in the manufactures of Dundee, could it be laid down in this country at a price not exceeding £30 a ton; and yet in the report which accompanied this article, the straw is said to be intrinsically a very poor article, and the quality of the finished sample also indifferent; but, nevertheless, it is a marketable article. Considering how frequently inquiries have been made to grow flax, even though it should be of a coarse quality, it appears surprising to me that some of the easily grown fibres of India should not have been employed as substi tutes for flax. This is probably owing to the fibres being sent by the natives in a roughly prepared state to market. For there is no doubt that the fibre, when ultimately divided, is fine and also strong enough, as we may see in this specimen of the Wuckoo fibre, from Travancore, and This is still more conspicuous in the fibres which have been prepared by Mr. Pye, and which I gave him a few days ago in the rough state in which they were sent from India. The red bast from Pegu has been converted into a good fibre, and we see a part has been bleached and is almost white. Mr. Pye's other specimens were, he informs me, prepared from the commercial Bombay hemp; I hope Mr. North will give us some information respecting this process. Besides these, there is another set of fibres, which I will not particularise, for they are too numerous, but they are remarkable for length, softness, and silkiness; indeed, in many respects, they resemble fine jute, but they are usually stronger. These belong chiefly to the genus Hibiscus, some of which are cultivated on account of their edible fruit. Several have been sent from Assam, others from Chota Nagpore, and Sambhulpore, from Bijnour and from the Deyran valley. The Urena, from Pegu, but a weed in most parts of India, yields a soft jute-like fibre, which, as well as another from Tenasserim, may be used for flax. Others have been sent from the opposite coast of India, that is, from Canara, whence, we have seen, a fine kind of hemp is produced. Some of these are well worthy of cultivation. Dr. Roxburgh, 50 years ago, recommended Hibiscus strictus for cultivation, on account of the quantity and fineness of the fibre it yielded. So also Abromz augusta, which he was disposed to call Perennial Indian Flax. These specimens are still in the India House collection, and fresh ones have been sent recently from Assam. The bast abounds with long, strong, and white silky fibres. The plant grows so rapidly as to yield two, three, or even four crops of cuttings annually, fit for peeling. He obtained 271 lbs. of clean fibre, which he states was three times greater than the average produce of sunn. To prove that I do not exaggerate the importance and probable extensive employment of this class of fibres, I have only to refer to some beautifully prepared specimens of some of these fibres, which I gave to Mr. Malcolmson, of Portlaw, and which he has returned me within these few days. Though I prefaced these observations by stating that I would not enter too much into detail or dwell upon a very large number of plants, yet, as most of those to which I have referred are the produce of the richer soils and moister climates of India, it would be desirable to find something fit to give employment to those who live near the drier and more barren and desert parts of India. There is fortunately a plant found in great abundance in such parts of India, which requires no culture, can live without water, and abounds in fibre and a milky juice. This, moreover, is a plant with perennial roots, and of which the stems, when cut down, spring up again, and give a fresh crop of fibres. These I formerly brought to your notice, as remarkable for their strength. I now notice them as conspicuous for their fineness, flexibility, and fitness for textile purposes, as may be seen in the sample we have here, of a muslin-like handkerchief, made of the fibres of the Mudar, a plant which belongs to a family abounding in fine and strong fibres, and of which we have several specimens in this room. The Mudar itself belongs to the genus Calotropis, of which there are different species in Sindh, in the West Indies, and in the Madras Peninsula, but all yield this fibre. With this, however, I will only mention a very remarkable fibre, from its strength and silkiness, which has been sent from Upper Assam, as the produce of Paderia fœtida. The only fibre which remains for me to notice is large operations that an average of low charges can be accomplished." Suitable materials being abundant, he proposes that it should be reduced to the state of half-stuff by the aid of the Dhenkee, already mentioned, as an instrument to found in almost every house in Bengal, being used for husking rice, the preparation of tobacco, of drugs, dyestuffs, and brick-dust. one that has already been frequently brought to the notice of this Society, and that is the fibre known under the names of China-grass, Chu-Ma, Ramee, Kaloee, Rheea, and Kankhora, which is not only well known in China, but in the province of Assam in India; likewise in the Bengal districts of Rungpore and Dinage-be pore; in Tenasserim, Siam, Singapore, and Sumatra. Dr. Oxley, writing since my former communication, says it is indigenous all over the Malayan archipelago, grows freely at Singapore, and occurs as a secondary jungle in the greatest profusion in Java; and all that is required is the art of preparation. The Malays have always employed it for their nets and fishing-lines. Difficulties having been experienced in inducing the natives to grow more of the Rheea fibre than they require for their own fishing-lines, the Court of Directors of the East India Company ordered a few tons to be purchased annually in each district, in order that the natives might, on extending the culture, always find a ready sale for their produce on the spot, or until the quantity should be sufficient to attract the attention of merchants. In consequence of this order, small consignments of this Rheea fibre have been made from different districts, the quantities of which will no doubt increase yearly. These will also be sold by Messrs. Noble. There have been also sent a few other Rheea fibres, produced by other species of Urtica or Bohomeria. PAPER MATERIALS. Having dwelt so long upon the subject of fibres in general, time and space will allow me to say only a few words respecting their application to paper making. This I the less regret, as having pointed out a mass of valuable material which may be and is actually employed both in India and China for conversion into paper, the subject is one rather for planters, merchants, and manufacturers, than for me to follow up. My attention was first directed to the subject in consequence of the repeated inquiries from paper-makers, and subsequently by an official application from the Board of Trade, to point out any fresh sources of material for the making of paper. India seemed to me, and still does appear, an unworked mine, from which much valuable material might be extracted, and I have no doubt that much will thence be imported, but in this, as in all other cases, we must adopt means suited to the ends we have in view. It has been objected that India is far and freights high, that fibremade pulp will not draw well through machinery. These objections were as valid when the inquiries were made as they are now. In recommending that Indian fibres should be converted into half stuff for paper makers, I did not intend that the best fibres should be beaten up into pulp before they had been used for other purposes, because I hope that as these fibres can bear examination, and will amply repay any labour that is bestowed upon them, that they will take a higher instead of a lower place in the market. But I specially directed attention to some plants which grow in wild luxuriance, and to others which are cultivated for other purposes, and of which the fibrous part is now yearly thrown away in vast quantities. I believe that if some simple machinery were brought in aid, even of the cheap labour of India, that some of these fibres might be profitably preserved, and that the waste and tow which was obtained during their preparation might be reduced to the state of halfstuff. As an instance of the cost at which this may be done, I would beg to quote Mr. Henley, who has favoured us with a paper on this subject, published in the volume of the Society's Journal for 1854. He there observes: It is to India we must look for extensive and cheap supplies, for it is there alone we find the necessary conditions of very low-priced and intelligent labour, with an abundance of elementary suitable materials; and that as articles of small price are particularly sensitive of charges, such as of freight, &c., it is only by The charges to London, including freight, insurance, exchange, dock, and in fact all commercial charges, he estimates at £7 per ton weight. It is necessary to specify the ton weight, as the ton for freight would be only 16 cwt. The cost of half-stuff of different qualities would be about £4 4s. and £7, as contracts could be made at the rate of Rs. 1 8, or 3s., to Rs., 2 8, or 5s., per maund of 82lb., deliverable at any central depôt within a radius of twenty miles. The expenses of conveyance, &c., in India, about £2 2s., and of freight to London, and other expenses, about £7; so that the lower quality might be imported here for £13 4s., and the better quality, equal to linen rags, for £16 5s. "It would be necessary to have recourse to the usual Indian system of making cash advances to contractors ere a pound of the goods had any existence. Such, however, is the universal system of the country. The natives, it must be admitted, are wonderfully faithful on the whole in adhering to their bargains." 64 The method proposes to avail itself at once of their own simple arts; it brings the question as nearly as possible to the state of domestic industry, ever the most economical in such countries; it reduces to the lowest point the charge of collecting from extensive districts the various elementary matters which might present themselves." I believe, however, that in some parts of India, these expenses might be still further reduced, that is in places still nearer the coast, as, for instance, in Arracan, where excellent basts and ropes made from them are sold in the bazaar of Attyat, for 1r. a maund, or 3s. per cwt. Material is equally abundant in the western coast of the peninsula of India, where, however, water power might easily be applied to the Dhenkee or tilt hammer of India. This would still further reduce the expense, at the same time that the work was effectually done. As an Having on a former occasion, as well as in a work on this subject, enumerated the various Indian fibres which may be and are employed for conversion into paper, I need do no more, on the present occasion, than state that specimens of most of them are here. instance of the ignorant objections sometimes made, one writer objects to the plantain being employed for the purpose, as he knows, from experience, that the fibre melts away, and is without substance for making into paper. Now if there is one of these fibre papers that is stronger than another, and even parchmenty in character, it is the paper made of plantain fibre. From India fresh specimens of these papers have been sent, as well as some made from fresh sources, as by Mr. Underwood, of Madras, from the fibre of mats, as well as from the fibre of the leaves of Pandanus odoratissimus. Captain Dalton has sent from Assam paper made from young bamboos. Mr. Botten some made of the bark of Daphne cannabinda, from which Nepal paper is made. We have also some bricks of the half stuff of the same, for which I am indebted to Mr. Henley. Dr. Riddell has sent paper made of the fibres of Hibiscus esculentus, one of the plants cultivated on account of its fruit, being used as an article of diet. The plant, he says, is of quick growth and easy of culture, and produces a very strong and serviceable paper. |