Page:The Industrial Arts of India.djvu/191

 The chintzes of Masulipatam have enjoyed a world -wide celebrity ever since the days of Arrian, and probably of the Maha- bharata* They are prized for the freshness and permanency of their dyes, the colours being brighter after washing than before. There is still a great demand for them in Burma, the Straits, and Persian Gulf, but Manchester goods threaten to destroy also this immemorial industry of India Nearly all the Masulipatam chintzes seen in England are copied from Persian designs, of sprigs of flowers, and of the knop and flower, and tree of life patterns* Wherever the Mahommedan influence is carried in India the decorative symbols of the Aryan race are introduced* But at Masulipatam the Persian designs have been introduced through the trade with Persia, and probably by Persian colonists.

In Nellore fine shirtings are made at Kovur, and pocket- handkerchiefs, and, when ordered, muslins suitable for ladies' dresses* Exceedingly fine muslins are made at Yapallagunta, in the Udyagin taluka ; and strong tent-cloths at Kandukur* Fine cloths are made in the talukas of Gundur, Rapur, Nellore, and KavalL Handkerchiefs are specially woven at Valaparla in the Ongole taiuk r and curtain-cloths at Gundavaram, Turimula, and Nidimusali, in the Nellore taluka, Dyeing is done at several places in the Kundukur, Ongole, and Nellore talukas *

In the Bellary collectorate cotton is generally woven, and also cloths of cotton and silk* Cotton carpets of large size for houses and tents, and of a smaller size for the native troops, are made at Adoni, whence they are exported in large quantities to all parts of Southern India.

In Mysore cotton manufactures are established in every dis- trict* Very superior cloths are made at Molakalnuru, which are much prized in Mysore and at Bangalore. Striped cotton carpets, darts or satrangis y are made in the Kolar districts : also at Sbik- arptir, in the Shimoga district ; and chintzes at Shimoga itself and Aimur, In the Turnkur district there are 3,763 cotton looms, and 34, Sot cotton spinning-wheels* Black and white checks are