CHAPTER VI.
OCCUPATIONS AND TRADE.
Arts and Industries—Silk-weavers—Cotton-weavers; their numbers—Their methods—Tape-weaving—Gunny-weaving—Cotton-dyeing—Chintz-stamping—Mats and tattis—Metal-work—Painting—Pith-work—Musical instruments—Wood and stone carving—Ropes—Oils—Tanning—Shoes —Baskets—Bangles—Pottery—Country sugar-Mercury—House-building—Printing-presses—Rice-mills—Indigo factories—Ship-building—Dowlaishweram work-shops—District Board Workshops at Cocanada—Samalkot distillery and sugar-factory—Dummagúdem lace. Trade—Markets—Grain-dealing—Exports—Imports—Trade of Cocanada—The harbour—Port conservancy—European business houses at Cocanada—European Chamber of Commerce—Steamers visiting the port—Amount of trade—Character of trade. Weights and Measures—Goldsmiths' weights—Commercial weights—Measures of capacity—Miscellaneous commercial notations—Lineal measures—Land measures—Measures of time —Local monetary terms.
As in other districts, agriculture and the tending of flocks and herds employ the very large majority of the population. This is especially the case in the Agency. Precise statistics are not available for the district as it stands at present, as the census of 1901 was taken before its limits were altered. Agricultural methods have been referred to in Chapter IV above, and the breeds of cattle and sheep in Chapter I. Of the arts and industries, weaving employs a larger number of hands than any other.
The weaving of silk is done on only the smallest scale. Silk borders are often given to cotton cloths, but the pure silk cloths worn in the district are imported. The best come from Benares and Calcutta, but commoner kinds are brought from Ganjám and elsewhere by local merchants and pedlars. Silk is rarely employed for ordinary wear, but is very commonly used by the higher castes for what are called madi cloths, that is, the ceremonially pure garments which are worn at home at meal times. The only silk fabrics made locally are the turbans and kerchiefs made by a few Dévángas and Karnabattus at Peddápuram. These seldom sell for more than Rs- 10. The silk is obtained from Calcutta and Bombay and is dyed locally with violet, red, green and yellow aniline dyes. These colours are popular; and, since the cloths are not often washed, the fugitive character of the aniline pigment does not matter. This industry is a small one, and does not appear to be increasing.
