Short simple problem please help!

Ok i’ve got this code:

j = this.itemLabel.text;
trace(j); //returns 1
desc.caption.text = my_xml.childNodes[project2].attributes.caption[j];

the text field ’ desc.caption’ displays “undefined”, which is not what I want. but when I change the third line to this it works, even though j == 1!!

desc.caption.text = my_xml.childNodes[project2].attributes.caption1;

what am i doing wrong?!