MALLOTUS 



FHILIPP1NENSIS 



THE KAMELA DYE 



Collection. . 



Adulteration. 



Bengal. 



Season. 

 Supply. 



U. Prov. 



Abundance. 



Panjab 



Prices. 



Bombay. 



Madras. 



Production. 



Burma. 



Indian 

 Methods. 



Mulberry Silk. 

 Tatar Silk. 



j) ye . The most important product of this tree is the kamela powder a 



DYE formed of the red glands found on the surface of the capsule. It is used 

 chiefly for imparting to silk a bright orange or flame colour. A full account of 

 the history of this dye is given in the Dictionary. In collecting the powder, the 

 ripe fruits are placed in a cloth or sack, and beaten until the glandular pubescence 

 is removed. In some districts the fruits are simply rubbed between the palms 

 of the hands, or are kneaded with the feet on the ground. The powder thus 

 obtained is then sifted to free it from the fruits and broken pieces, and in this 

 condition it is ready for market. Through careless collection or fraudulent 

 admixture, the commercial article, however, is often met with in a very impure 

 state, and this may partly account for its neglect by the Native dyers and the 

 decrease in its consumption. 



The following abstract of the available information regarding the chief 

 localities and collecting areas may be given here : 



Bengal. The tree is fairly abundant in the forests of Puri and Singhbhum, 

 but is scarce in other localities. In the Puri Division it is said to occur in abun- 

 dance in the southern tracts. It grows wild in the forests, but attains greatest 

 perfection in open situations. Flowers and fruits heavily on lands leased to 

 the Khonds, who clear away all other tree growth, and carefully prune the trees 

 every year. In the thick forests it bears few flowers and fruits. The flowering 

 season is in December, and the fruits mature in January to February. The 

 fruit of the Bengal plant is larger than that of the United Provinces, and 

 doubtless yields a more abundant and better colouring matter. The dye was 

 formerly procurable in large quantities from Raman Lall Das of Elam bazar, 

 Birbhum, at Rs. 13 to 14 per maund. 



Untied Provinces. Occurs in great quantity throxighout the Kumaon, Garhwal, 

 and Ganges Sub-Himalayan Forest Divisions. It grows wild, for the most 

 part associated with sal (shorea robustn). Is common in the Dun; in a few 

 places might be said to form almost the principal tree met with. In spite of 

 its prevalence, there is now, however, no trade in the dye, which could be 

 landed at a railway station for Rs. 10 to Rs. 12 per 100 Ib. 



Panjab. Very abundant in the Nurpur forests, Kangra. About 30 maunds 

 are annually exported from Nurpur, where it is sold at the rate of 4 seers per 

 rupee. The cost of 100 Ib. would thus be Rs. 12-8, or, delivered at the nearest 

 station, Patankot, would come to Rs. 16. At Amritsar it is said to fetch Rs. 20 

 a maund. Kamela is imported into Rawalpindi from the Hoshiarpur district at 

 the latter price. The tree grows in abundance in the Simla forests, but the 

 dye is not gathered. 



Bombay. The Belgaum district is the principal collecting ground for Western 

 India. About 4,000 Ib. are sold locally every year at 4 to 6 annas per Ib. The 

 price of 100 Ib. delivered at Belgaum railway station is Rs. 12-8. 



Madras. Widely distributed in the Gamsur taluk of the Ganjam district, 

 the annual output varying from 30,000 to 35,000 Ib. The cost price at Madras, 

 including transport and delivery, is Rs. 20 to Rs. 40 per 100 Ib. In Madras City 

 there is no local demand for kamela, and the dye from Ganjam is all shipped to 

 England and the Continent. 



Burma. More common in Upper than in Lower Burma. The dye collected 

 is estimated to cost at least double what it does in North India. There 

 do not appear to be any regular market rates, but the prepared powder can 

 be obtained in the jungles at Rs. 5 per viss. 



Indian Methods of Dyeing. Hooper gives the following account of the 

 method of dyeing pursued in Belgaum : "Two Ib. of silk and 1 Ib. of carbonate 

 of soda are placed in a vessel of water and boiled for a short time. As soon 

 as the silk softens, it is removed. In the same water are then placed 20 tolas of 

 kamela powder, 2| tolas of jinjili (Sesamum) oil, Ib. of alum, 1 Ib. of carbonate 

 of soda (in addition to the 1 Ib. previously used). This mixture is boiled for 

 a quarter of an hour, and then the silk is replaced in the vessel and taken out 

 after another quarter of an hour's boiling. The colour is deep yellow." In the 

 Central Provinces, in dyeing tasar silk, the powder is first mixed with the ash 

 of the myrobalan (Vertninniia A^ma) and then put in water and allowed to 

 stand till the sediment subsides. The water is then decanted into another 

 vessel in which is placed finely powdered lodh (Syttiptocos racemosa) bark. The 

 tasar silk is next soaked for six hours in the preparation ; then taken out and 

 dried, put back in the fluid, dried and again submerged till the fabric obtains 

 the desired shade. 



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