CHAPTER XXVII. Description of Hindoo Cotton-spinning Machinery and Loom. THE plates prefixed are correct drawings of the complete set of Hindoo Cotton-spinning Machinery, which I procured at Madras, and brought over to England, as mentioned page 156. No 1. is a "Cotton Cleanser," or Gin, consisting of two rollers of teak wood, through which the Cotton is passed, in order to cleanse it from the seeds, and make it fit for use. No. 2. is a "Cotton Bow," and has a great resemblance to the Hatter's-bow, used for bowing wool in our own country. The Cotton being spread underneath this Machine, the string, which derives elasticity from a complicated arrangement of strings on the frame of the bow, is struck with a heavy Mallet of wood, causing it to vibrate strongly amongst the Cotton, which is thus reduced to a loose fleecy state; and this simple operation serves the purpose of that of Carding in England. No. 3. is the "Spinning Wheel :" the Wheel itself is composed of two sides, formed of cross pieces, connected at the extremities by strings, to serve in lieu of a circular frame, so that it is, in fact, an octagonal wheel. This Machine is of teak wood, extremely heavy and strong in proportion to its size. The Spindle, which is very small, is fed by the hand with the Cotton prepared by the Bow, No. 2. No. 4. is a Machine answering to the English Reel, composed of pegs fixed upon a frame with slides,-round which pegs the Cotton Yarn is formed into hanks. I am 282 HINDOO MACHINERY. unable to explain the precise mode of using this machine, but am informed, by very good authority, that in Russia linen yarn is reeled upon a similar principle, but the pegs are fixed in the wall. The cost of the whole of this complete set of Machinery for spinning Cotton, was about thirty-five shillings sterling.* It may well excite our surprise, that with such rude Machines, and from Cotton of a peculiarly short staple, the Hindoos should be able to produce the fine yarns required for the manufacture of the Arnee muslins ;-but such is the fact, and it affords proof of their extraordinary skilfulness and patient application in those pursuits, which they have been trained to from their childhood, and have inherited from their forefathers. The scheme of introducing British Cotton-spinning Machinery into India, will, I think, be attended with many difficulties. The habits of the Hindoos must undergo a mighty change, before they will submit to the confinement and regular labour of a Cotton Mill. And, on the Coromandel coast at least, it may well be doubted, whether the Machinery itself can be kept in working condition, on account of the extreme moisture of the atmosphere, which rusts and corrodes every thing made of iron, to such a A literal copy of the Invoice of these articles, in the imperfect English of the Native broker whom I employed to purchase them, may amuse the reader : Cooly hire for Do. office to your Geordon-house.... Dr. 380 1 12 0 Madras, 8th Feb. 1828. Rs. 18 15 2 Contents Receved, P. CONDAPAH." HINDOO MACHINERY. 283 degree, that it is likely the cotton will adhere to the rollers, &c., and the work be spoiled. It is probable, however, that many improvements may be effected in different branches of the native manufactures, in the course of years, by the gradual and judicious application of machinery. This may also greatly assist Missionary objects, if the converted Hindoos should be able to find employment in the establishments of Europeans, so as to avert the ruin which now generally would result in their temporal affairs on their embracing Christianity, and the prospect of which, at present, deters multitudes of them from obeying the convictions of their judgment and conscience. The drawing of the Loom, (facing the title of this part of the work,) was not taken from the original, but from a beautiful model of ebony, executed in India, for the use of which I am indebted to the kindness of Sir George Philips, Bart. M.P. Weston, Warwickshire. The most striking circumstance in the Indian loom, is that the body of the machine, (where the weaving is performed,) is a few inches only above the surface of the ground. Of course it follows that the weaver could make no use of his feet, in working the traddles, were it not for a deep hole which he digs in the earth for the purpose, at the edge of which he is seated, and which contains the traddles required for his work. Another feature worthy of notice is, that the shuttle is thrown from hand to hand through the warp without the aid of a picker. I am informed that this is still the case in the manufacture of linen in Ireland. U |