Year: 1878

HulCh SIlChS LILO GulCooo gOSSbh0Ap ohA "hS
then beat them gently with tiny broom.
The threads get caught on the end of the
broom and can thus be separated and then
wound on wheels in strands Of any strength
desired This, as you can imagine, is very
delicate process. Indeed the whole business
requires the greatest care, for silk.worms are
often attacked with diseases which will some
times carry off whole establishments.


Men have tried to make silk directly from
the mulberry tree, but with no success at all.
They also took the sticky matter which the
worm secretes and tried thatin connection with
the leaves and although the result wss lit
tie more satisfactory, still it wouldn't answer
the purpose, and it proved that not only
mustthe worm manufacture the silk, but also
spin it itself before the perfect thread can be
produced. And yet men call themselves
'lords of creation !"


A NATIVES RAILWAY EXPERIENCE.


A correspondent of the Church Missionary
Latsgigencer gives this graphic and amusing
description of railway locomotive in India,
as related by native who had visited Calcut-
ia, and on his return to his home, explained
to his friends the wonderful sights he had
witnessed:


81 had to 60 to Calcutta, and, as l heard
much about the iron way, was anxious to
know how the English had constructed it. I
therefore set off for Raniganj, and pictured to
myself what kind of road was necessary to
enable bullocks to draw carts without slip.
ping On reaching Raniganj, l looked on all
sides for the iron road, but could see none.
On inquiry, was directed to very, very
long building, in which saw two thin iron
rods running along on the earth, and long
line of carriages joined together by huge iron
chains How the Sahib Log (the Europeans)
could train horses or oxen to run on those
thin iron rods, laid down as far as the eye
could see, in straight line, was more than l
could conceive, for | was sure my pony would
never walk on them. As I was calculating
how many pairs of oxen would be required to
draw this multitude of large carriages, l was
terrified by the snortiug and roaring of
dreadful monster, which came along at a fear
full rate, and stopped near the carriages, Civ.
ing, at the same time, tremendous kick,
which shook all the carriages. No rakshas
could look more terrible than this being.
Well, that awful and terrible creature was to
be harnessed, and was, after all, more docile
than many horse of ours, for it stood very
quietly while it was being fastened to the car
riages by mighty chain. We we're then or
dered to enter the carriages, bell giving the
sign. What said I, with such monster to
draw us3' Yes was the reply. Icould not
make up my mind but those who, like my
self, hesitated to enter the carriages, received
a kick or two, and so in We went. l trembled
from head to foot, and gave myself up for
lost yet what could do? The carriage was
closed. At last, the bell rang second time,
second squeal was heard, like the voices of
hundred elephants, and off we started. No
sooner had We gone little way than the anger
Of the creature that drew Us subsidized, and it
went on dragging US as if we were nothing.
Thus we went quietly on until we reached an
other station; but no sooner did We stop than
the creature again became furious. This time,
however, it seemed to be thirsty; for the
coachman embarrassed it and took it to high
tower, where it drank / cannot tell how many
maunds of water, "a u,aund or mum is eighty
pounds). 1t then received feed of some
black stuff, and, having we'll eaten and drunk,
it went on again-yes, on, on, on, the creature
seeming never to get tired. We reached CAL
cutta in no time."


The man looked proudly around the circle
of his hearers. and they looked with astonish-
ment at a man Of such experience.