IOR/F/4/1771/72784

Proposals by Government of Bombay to encourage the better manufacture of sugar by native cultivators in Bombay Presidency, in view of crop’s importance for export and the successful introduction of Mauritian sugar cane to the country. Tale of contents. Documents include: [f. 7–15] from Territorial Department Revenue, Government of Bombay, to Court of Directors in London, 29 Sept 1838, summarising actions taken to encourage manufacture of sugar by ryots (cultivators) in Bombay presidency. Enclosures include: [f 17-28] correspondence Apr-May 1837 re method of land assessment in the Presidency (assessment to be fixed according to potential of the land, not the value of produce cultivated on it); [f 31-48] correspondence Nov 1837 re collectors’ experiences of land assessment at Poona and Surat; [f 54-58] from Richard Mills, Collector, Poona, to Thomas Williamson, Revenue Commissioner, 21 December 1837, concurring with Alexander Gibson’s suggestion to set up sugar mills to which cultivators can bring their own cane to be crushed; from Alexander Gibson, Superintendent, Deccan Garden, proposing manufacture of sugar by iron mill rather than by current method of wooden rollers; [f 69-78] H A Harrison, Collector of Ahmednuggur, outlines plan to employ experts from Bengal and China to teach native cultivators to manufacture sugar more efficiently, 13 Jan 1838; [f 78-81] McGregor Brownrigg, Chairman, Bombay Chamber of Commerce, states that sugar samples examined show Mauritian cane to be superior, 19 Jan 1838; [f 95-98] results of Gibson’s experiments comparing country and Mauritian cane, 27 Feb 1838 (repeated at f 108-11); Government of Bombay recommends to Government of India that qualified people be sent to Bombay to teach process of making sugar and sugar candy, and sends results of Gibson’s experiments, 23 Apr 1838; [f 124-6] results additionally sent to Bombay Chamber of Commerce, which declares the sugar to be the best of any produced in Bombay territories, being unrefined and containing high proportion of saccarine; confident that this sugar will match the selling prices of best Mauritian sugar in England. Sample to be sent to England ‘for the opinion of competent persons’, 26 Apr 1838.