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When cultivated during the rains, which is very generally the case in Bengal, an elevated, rich, friable soil is required; which ought to be well ploughed, or otherwise dressed, to free it of weeds and bring it into good tilth. The seed, about eighty pounds weight to the acre, is sown when the first showers fall about the beginning of the periodical rains; and covered in by the harrow, or any other mode. Little or no more is required, as the plant grows so rapidly as to keep down the weeds itself. By August the plant will be in flower, and from five to eight, or more, feet high. When the fibre is required of a fine quality, it is pulled in this stage of its growth; if strength is required, it must stand till in seed, or even till the seed is ripe. When thought fit for the purposes intended, it is cut, or pulled up by the root. Some recommend steeping it immediately when it is pulled, in standing fresh water, &c. as with hemp in Europe: others, and I believe with good reason, recommend its being dried for some time previous to being steeped : upon this head much will be found in Mr. Wissett's book.

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The length of time required for steeping, depends on the season of the year, the heat of the weather, and the state of the water. In August and September, from two to three is generally sufficient. When that is accomplished (which will be known by the bark separating freely from the stalk-but not longer, as over-steeping weakens the fibre much), the people employed in the work stand in the water in which the plant has been steeped; each takes a handful, which he breaks in one or more places;, after having washed off any mud or filth, he then grasps it by one end between both hands, and beats it against the surface of the water, which quickly removes the reed from the fibres; when the parcel is turned, and the other end treated in the same manner,!

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This simple mode is very generally followed by the na tives over Bengal; and not only removes the reed quickly but washes the fibres at the same time. Hence the Sunn of this country (Bengal) is always whiter than that of Bombay or Salsette, though they are the produce of the same plant :

and is probably the most expeditious mode that can be de vised; but, unfortunately, the fibres are always so materially entangled, that they give but little support to each other, until by the heckle they are in some measure restored to their natural situation, with the loss of nearly one half of the original quantity; which renders the heckled sunn of Bengal high priced.

About Bombay, the Salsette sunn, or hemp, as it is generally called, is reckoned particularly good; not inferior to the best Russian hemp; and that is all peeled by the hand. Numerous experiments made by me, induce a belief that its superiority depends on the peeling.

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In that country, and in many other parts of India, the seed is sown toward the close of the rains, when a stronger soil is said to be required. In other respects, the management is the same.

Method of cultivating the Paat Plants (Corchorus olitorius, and capsularis) in Bengal, and cleaning the Fibres of their Bark, there called Jute.

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LIKE sunn, it delights in a free, open, rich soil, which is rather moist, but not so low as to be readily overflowed during heavy rains. The ground requires to be well ploughed, cleaned of weeds, and reduced as fine as possible. The seed (about ten pounds weight, to the English acre) is generally sown in April or May, with the first showers, before the periodical rains begin, which generally happen in June. The young plants require frequent weedings, till about eight or ten inches high: they are then strong enough to keep down the weeds, their growth being rapid.

In August or September they will be in full blossom, with many of the capsules almost full grown. Now is the usual time for cutting the crop; an operation performed with the

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common country sickle, a few inches above the ground. If the plants are very long, they are cut in two, to render them more manageable. They are then laid in heaps in the field, for four or five days; during which period the leaves are detached; and the rest probably undergoes a necessary fermentation, or heating, which the strong, almost woody, stems may require to soften them, before committed to the water. When this operation is finished, the plants are tied up in bundles of about eighteen inches in circumference, and committed to the steeping process, as for sunn, in stagnant fresh water, for from eight to sixteen days, according to the age of the plants, the quality of the water, and state of the weather-(heat hastens the process much.) The operation is known to be completed by the same signs hemp and flax are judged by in Europe-viz. by the bark parting readily from the stalks. The bundles are now divided into handfuls: these are grasped by the operator, who stands about knee-deep in the water, and beats on the surface of that fluid; turning and rubbing it frequently with the hands, till the boan or stalks, and the medullary connecting substance, which unites the fibres of the bark, are entirely removed, leaving the horle, or clean fibres, in his hands. These are laid even, spread out upon the grass, or hung upon ropes exposed to the sun-shine, till perfectly dry: then twisted up into bundles, and carried to market, or put by for use.

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A stout reddish variety of this species (C. capsularis) has been introduced from China into Bengal, under the name China hemp; the material of which is more abundant, and every way better. One biggah (a third of an English acre) was sown with two pounds and a half of seed on the 18th of May, 1808; and on the 9th of September it was cut, when most of the blossoms had decayed, and the capsules were fully formed. The biggah yielded 332 pounds avoirdupois of the clean fibre. The whole expense of cultivation and cleaning, the rent of the land excluded, was five rupees and a half; and if a rupee and a half is.

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added for the rent of the biggah of ground, the whole will be seven rupees; which is a little more than five shillings for the hundred pounds weight. It is the seed of this sort that accompanies this memorandum.

R.

Queries relative to Africa.

§ 1. Geography, Statistics, &c.

1. WHAT is the extent of territory belonging to the state, and what are its boundaries?

2. Between what parallels of latitude is it comprised?

3. What is the general aspect of the country; moun. tainous or champaign; dry or marshy; open or covered with wood?

4. What is the nature and temperature of the climate, the range of the thermometer, the course of the seasons? &c.

5. What is the general nature of the soil? Is it fertile or otherwise; and what are the particular purposes to which it appears best adapted?

6. What are its mineral productions, and in what degree are the natives acquainted with their use?

7. What animals are found there, either in a wild or domestic state?

8. What are its chief vegetable productions?

9. Does it contain any navigable rivers? What is their size, and the extent and direction of their course? Do they abound with fish, and of what kind?

10. Is the country well supplied with fresh water, and by what means?

11. What are the chief towns, their latitude and longitude, their extent and population?

12. What is the population of the state, and of what description of persons does the population consist?

13. Is it increasing, stationary, or diminishing, and by what circumstances does it appear to be affected?

14. Whence do the people derive their subsistence? Do they follow, and to what extent, the fishing, hunting, pastoral, agricultural, or commercial life?

15. What are the articles which they cultivate?

16. Of what improvements is their agricultural system susceptible, either by introducing new implements of husbandry; by inducing the cultivation of indigenous plants which have hitherto been neglected; by importing new seeds and plants; or in any other way?

17. Are there any species of timber, applicable to the purposes of ship-building, house-building, cabinet work, &c. which might be brought thence?

18. How are lands occupied? Do they descend by inheritance, or do they form a common stock?

19. Is there much waste land?..

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20. Are lands ever leased or sold, and on what terms?

21. How are the lands cultivated?,

{ 22. Would it be possible for Europeans to obtain lands to cultivate, and what security would they have for the validity of the grant?

23. What facilities would such persons enjoy of obtain. ing labourers?

24. What is the nature of the commerce carried on by the people of the country; and how is it carried on? By barter, or by a fixed medium of exchange?

25. Have they any and what standards of weights and measures?

26. What are the foreign articles for which there is a demand among them; and what have they to give in exchange?

27. In what way may their commerce be best enlarged?

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