cr own readers

SILKWORMS. 17
into a deep sleep. The attendants th en place the
bamboo shelves on which th e cocoons lie ncar a slow
fire of charcoal or of wood, in order th at the chrysalids,
lIS the worms are called at thi s stage ,
may be killed by its heat. Otherwise
th ey would, in three weeks more, break
from th eir pri son and appear in th e form
of moth s-the last and perfect state of
insect life.
7. Th e chrysa lids having been destroyed,
the cocoons are removed fr om the
fram es. Women and girls now unwind
the cocoons, placing th em in boiling water,
in order that th e silk may come off more COCOOX.
e. ily. Th ese workers must be deft of hand and
expert in the business, fully capable of making the
threads of equal size, and of producin g th em bright,
clear , and glossy.
8. When the cocoons are put into boiling water,
the outer layer, which is called the silk rind or shell,
is first unwound. Another set of women, who arc
equally expert, are then engaged in unwinding the
inncr layer of th e cocoons, called th e silk pulp or flesh.
In th e course of a day, one woman can unwind five
ounces of silk; th e most expert work ers cannot do
more than eight ounces.
9. From long, white, and shining cocoons a fine and
good thread of silk is obtained j fr om th ose which are
large, dull in colour, and not firm of texture, a coarse
thread is produced. This coarse thread is used in
making th e stuffs with which dresses are lined. When
the silk covering is removed, th e chrysalids are eaten
by the workers, who regard th em lIS excellent food.