CHAY ROOT FOR DY^NG RED. 297 



liquor began to grow warm, I put tlie cloth into it, and let it. and boiled in the 



remain until it had boiled about half an hour, during which chay°root. 



the cloth was frequently ftirred. I then took it out, and 



having rinced it well with cold water, I put it to dry in the 



fun. The delineation of the flower now appeared of a good It gave a good 



bright red, and the ground of the cloth, though flightly tinged^ " * 



was much lefs fo than 1 expefted. By wafhing it again with which ftood 



cold water, and afterwards with foap and water, and ex- •^prjj"|j by' 



pofing it for a whole day to the fun, during which it was foap, and cleared 



frequently befprinkled with water, I btought it to the ftate in ^^/^j'^^^""' '"^ 



which you now fee it. The whole procefs has only taken up 



about fix and thirty hours. I fliould have mentioned that the 



waftiing with foap heightened the brightnefs of the red con- 



fiderably. 



Making allowance for my want of experrence In the praftice This rough elTay 

 of dying, and confidering the great improvement which may '^ ^^touraging. 

 be expeded in the procefs from the fuperior (kill of the Englith 

 artifts, I think we may conclude, even from this iraperfed 

 eflay, that the Chay root will be a valuable acquifition to the 

 Englith calico-printers. I therefore recommend, that fo much 

 of the root as may remain unpurchafed at the fale, or at leaft 

 that a part of it may be properly packed up and fent to Eng- 

 land by one of the fliips now under difpatch. 



This drug is the root of a plant called by the botanifls Olden- Some account of 

 landia Umhellata. I have not met with it in this part of India ; ^^^ *^''"S« 

 but it grows naturally on the coaft of Cororaandel, where it is 

 alfo cultivated in great abundance, for the ufeof the dyers and 

 calico-printers. 



The fample which you fent me appears to be of a good 

 quality, and in good condition. It is faid that the root will 

 remain with its virtues entire for feveral years, and that they 

 are even improved by keeping. If this be the cafe, and pro- 

 vided the dyers at home find it anfwer, this circumftance is a 

 very favourable one, and muft enhance the value of the drug 

 as an article of commerce. * 



I am, &c. 



(Signed) J. FLEMING,; 

 fixport Warehoufe, Infpedior of Drugs. 



6ih April, 1198, 



Minute 



