116 Natural Historrj of the Coco-nut Tree, &c. 



of this remedy has been proved to me by repeated experi- 

 ments. In a word, all the medical properties of this sub- 

 stance, when taken internally, are so well known to the 

 Europeans that it is needless to enumerate them. The 

 Hindoos, who ascribe to it the same virtues, apply it to the 

 same purpose. 



Artists who paint cotton cloth, and dyers, employ it 

 with great advantage for several purposes relative to their 

 arts. The former use it as the base of the composition of 

 a gum varnish, which they apply to those parts of the cloth 

 which are not to be painted. To explain tbis process it is 

 necessary to observe, that the painters of chintz do not use 

 blocks for imprinting the colours ; they are applied with a 

 brush, «r the cloth receives the red and blue colours by im- 

 mersion ; a method of working very different from that of 

 the Europeans, and of which we have no idea. I am con- 

 vinced of what r advance, either by visiting our manufac- 

 tories, or reading the works which treat of this art in our 

 country, and which speak of the processes used in India. 

 I have examined in particular the Annalts des Arts et des 

 Matiufacturei'*, where it is said ''that the Indians apply 

 the. red colour, by immersing the cloth first in a mordant, 

 &c." This is not correct ; for this colour is always applied, 

 as I have said, by immersion, and warm. It is very sur- 

 prising that we should have ideas so incorrect on the me- 

 thods and processes used in the arts by these people, for 

 more than three centuries that we have had an opportunity 

 of being better acquainted with them. 



It is with the catecauibre also that they compose the 

 mordant which fixes on cloth the gold and silver leaf ap- 

 plied to it. This kind of chintz is made at Mazulipatnam; 

 and it is impossible to describe the richness, elegance, and 

 strength of this work. These cloths may be washed with- 

 out hurt to the gilding, in the same manner as the other 

 Indian stuff's are washed without injuring the brilliancy of 

 the colours. This art is valuable, and we have not at- 

 tempted to imitate it. The dvers extract also from the cate- 

 cambre, combined with the juice of other plants, lilac mor- 

 dore, puce, and maroon colours, which are employed for 

 dyeing silk, woollen, and cotton stuffs. 



It is employed with such success in the art of tanning, 

 that in five days leather is perfectly tanned and prepared. 

 The English, for some years past, bring it from India for 

 their tanneries : they use it with great advantage in order 

 to simplify their labour and to improve their leather. 



* No. 37, 



XVII. £-r- 



