Buchanan, Francis: A Journey from Madras through the countries of Mysore, Canara and Malabar ... (Band 3) (London, 1807)

IWRHS9B»»B51

MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR.

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always a good black. The best are made at Hara-punya-hully, in the chapter
territory lately ceded to the company, and at Ddvana-giri. Each of k^^s^j
the blankets, made of the wool from the first shearing of the sheep, APnl ll-
sells for from two to twelve Pagodas, or from 16*. %jd. to 4/. 17*. 4<d.
Those at four Pagodas are the finest made for common sale; and
these, with all of an inferior value, are brought to weekly markets,
and purchased by the merchant for ready money. If any of a higher
value are wanted, advances must be made. The great excellence
of these blankets is their power of turning rain ; and, the finer they
are, the better they do this. Some have been made, that were
valued so high as from two to three hundred Rupees, and that were
considered to be impenetrable by water.

Before the sheep are shorn, they are well washed. The wool, Wool.
when it has been shorn, is teased with the fingers, and then
beaten with a bow, like cotton, and formed into bundles for spin-
ning. This operation is performed both by men and women, partly
on the small Hindu cotton wheel, and partly with the distaff. Some
tamarind-seeds are bruised; and, after having been infused for a
night in cold water, are boiled. The thread, when about to be put
into the loom, is sprinkled with the cold decoction. The loom is
of the same simple structure with that usual in India. ^The new
made cloth is washed by beating it on a stone ; and, when dried, is
fit for sale. From this account of the process it will be evident,
that the great price of the finer kinds is owing to the great trouble
required in selecting wool sufficiently fine, the quantity of which
in any one fleece is very small.

Davana-giri is a place of considerable trade, and is the residence Commerce.
of many merchants, who keep oxen, and send goods to distant Carna§e-
places. Some of the merchants hire their cattle from Sivabhactars,
Mussulmans, and Marattahs, who make the carriage of goods a pro-
fession, and are called Badigaru. The load is reckoned 8 Maunds
of 48 Cucha Seers, or about S33lb., and the hire is estimated by this
quantity, whatever load the owner may choose to put on his cattle.