But Hiuen Tsang
also speaks of Indian pepper and incense (see next chapter) as grown at
'Ochali which seems to be some place on the northern border of Guzerat
(II.
161).
Marsden, in regard to the cotton, supposes here some confused introduction
of the silk-cotton tree (Bombax or Salmalia, the Semal of Hindustan),
but the description would be entirely inapplicable to that great forest
tree. It is remarkable that nearly the same statement with regard to
Guzerat occurs in Rashiduddin's sketch of India, as translated in Sir H.
Elliot's History of India (ed. by Professor Dowson, I. 67): "Grapes
are produced twice during the year, and the strength of the soil is such
that cotton-plants grow like willows and plane-trees, and yield produce
ten years running." An author of later date, from whom extracts are given
in the same work, viz., Mahommed Masum in his History of Sind,
describing the wonders of Siwi, says: "In Korzamin and Chhatur, which are
districts of Siwi, cotton-plants grow as large as trees, insomuch that men
pick the cotton mounted" (p. 237).
These would appear to have been plants of the species of true cotton
called by Royle Gossipium arboreum and sometimes termed G. religiosum,
from its being often grown in South India near temples or abodes of
devotees; though the latter name has been applied also to the nankeen
cotton. That of which we speak is, however, according to Dr. Cleghorn,
termed in Mysore Deo kapas, of which G. religiosum would be a proper
translation. It is grown in various parts of India, but generally rather
for ornament than use. It is stated, however, to be specially used for the
manufacture of turbans, and for the Brahmanical thread, and probably
afforded the groundwork of the story told by Philostratus of the wild
cotton which was used only for the sacred vestments of the Brahmans, and
refused to lend itself to other uses. One of Royle's authorities (Mr.
Vaupell) mentions that it was grown near large towns of Eastern Guzerat,
and its wool regarded as the finest of any, and only used in delicate
muslins. Tod speaks of it in Bikanir, and this kind of cotton appears to
be grown also in China, as we gather from a passage in Amyot's Memoires
(II. 606), which speaks of the "Cotonniers arbres, qui ne devoient etre
fertiles qu'apres un bon nombre d'annees."
The height appears to have been a difficulty with Marsden, who refers to
the G. arboreum, but does not admit that it could be intended. Yet I see
in the English Cyclopaedia that to this species is assigned a height of
15 to 20 feet. Polo's six paces therefore, even if it means 30 feet as I
think, is not a great exaggeration. (Royle, Cult. of Cotton, 144, 145,
152; Eng. Cycl. art. Gossypium.)
NOTE 4. - Embroidered and Inlaid leather-work for bed-covers, palankin mats
and the like, is still a great manufacture in Rajkot and other places of
Kattiawar in Peninsular Guzerat, as well as in the adjoining region of
Sind.
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