The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-15 00:00:00

_INDIAN PRODUCE.

The news from India establishes the hope that
13 area of disturbance so far as regards the corn-,
ercial products of the country will not be extended
,eyond its present limits. Au estimate may there-
ire be hazarded of the degree to which theosupplias
of the various articles will be affected. The lead-
ing exports from Calcutta to Great Britain, France,
and North America consist of indigo, sugar, salt-
petre, silk, cotton, rice, hides, safflower, jute,
mustardseed, cutch, and lac dye, and the ag-
J,regate value of these in the Indian market, reckoned
at the present prices, may to taken at about
9,000,0001., the distribution being about 6,200,0001.
to Great Britain, 1,100,0001. to France, and
1,700,0001. to the United States. Indigo, sugar,
silk, saltpe. re, and cotton are the most important,
but rice, mustard, and linseed, jute, and safflower
contribute considerably to the amount-. The ques-
tion is, what is the proportion of the cultivation of
each in the disaffected districts. Of sugar about ono-
half the total quantity comes from the neighbour-
hoo 1 of Benares, and the production wilt be proper-
tionablyin terfered with. Silk cornea principally from
the Lower Provinces, and will therefore not be
much influenced. Saltpetre will suffer greatly. The
only kind suitable for gunpowder is produced
in Bengal, and of this two-thirds are obtained
from the districts in revolt. Of cotton, also, about
from one-third to a half is supposed to come from
the same region. Indigo was already affected by
the occurrence of a short crop, and as from a quar-
ter to a third of the annual production is from the
Upper Provinces, a failure of supply has been anti-
cipated, such as to act powerfully on an advancing
market. At the last dates extreme apprehensions
were felt with respect to the stock of seed for next
season, Lower Bengal being principally sown with
seed produced in the disaffected districts. The pro-
duction of rice is a point that bears upon the native
population more than
,upcn the external c ou.merce
of the country. The quantity shipped ftiom Cal-
cutta is not important—its value,. perhaps, be-
ing 400,0001., and, as its cost of transport is
heavy, little would be likely to be brought, to the
port at a time like the present. The grand point of
anxiety, however, concerning this staple must be
with respect to the crop available for consumption
around the scenes of insurrection, and fears are
t entertainedo b e
endured.
sinafilmoalivlyerloaciailditleu
steialnarien9cwulitlilv hate
only in Lower Bengal, and will therefore be safe.
The cutch exported from Calcutta is not a native
product, but cornea from Pegu. Lac dye id
not an important item as regards aggre-
gate value, but it is obtained principally
from the disaffected parts. Hides also con-
stitute only a small item, and they are produced
generally throughout India. 0
seems reason to anticipate that thenthe
extwenhtolteo,
the production of some articles may
b e interferedb
3
with may reach an amount which
which
wouldabo
about
equal to 10 or 20 per cent. upon the total valiie of
the entire exports from Calcutta, • but as in the two
most important instances—fine indigo and saltpotro
—there are no competing countries to make up the
deficiency, a rise in price has occurred which will
cause the pecuniary results to the Indian producer
to be nearly the same as if the crops had reached
an average. The only serious pressure, therefore,
that India is likely to feel from the insurrection is
that which may result from any destruction of the
rico and wheat required for the food of the people,
and there is cause to suppose that cases of
this sorb
will be only local and limited. Commercially it is
Europe and America that will suffer, from being
compelled to economise tho substances that must
fall short. India will still take our gold, and will
consequently be thoroughly in a condition to pay
for the consequences of her own disturbances, al-
though among some persons there seems to be ac-
tual anxiety that an Imperial loan should be
granted even before she asks it. So long as any
amount could be raised in the country such a tour I
would
the worstuldbeutterl impolitic, while it would also es-
tablish possible precedent with regard to
our other possessions.