678 JAMAICA. 



is then gradually let in, to augment and precipitate the /^a//;^ ; the 

 ftirring and beating the indigo water being flill continued, and the 

 colour and appearance of the facula being carefully examined from 

 time to time, as the work advances; for the grain paffes, by degrees, 

 from a greeniOi caft to a fine blue, which is the proper colour when 

 the liquor has been fufficiently worked. Too fmall an agiration will 

 leave the grain coarfe and green ; whilft too long continued a beating 

 caufes it to turn almoft black. By examining it therefore repeatedly 

 during the procefs in a filver cup, or a foup-plate, the operator may 

 f'oon learn to diftinguifh whether to have his indigo of a deep, cop- 

 perifli blue, or of a paler complexion, as he chufes. When the 

 liquor wherein the fkcula fwim is quite clear, he may be fatisfied it 

 has lime-water enough. The lime-water mu ft be perfedly clean, or 

 otherwife the indigo will be very much fpeckled ; nor fliould too large 

 a quantity of it be let in, which would render the indigo too hard, 

 and of a greyhh caft. When the indigo water has acquired a ftrong, 

 purple colour, and the grain has become fcarcely perceptible, it muft 

 be left to fettle, which it will do in eight or ten hours. The clear 

 water is then very gently drawn off, out of the beating-vat, through 

 the plug-holes, fixed for that purpofe a few inches above the floor, 

 or bottom; and the fediment remains behind, which is carefully 

 ftrained through a horfe-hair fieve, to render the indigo perfectly 

 clean, and then put into bags of ofnabrig, or other coarfe linen, 

 eighteen inches long, and twelve wide, which are lufpended for 

 about five or fix hours in the fhade, to drain out the water. The 

 mouths of the bags are then well faftencd, and put into a prefs, to be 

 entirely freed from any remains of water, which would hurt the 

 quality of the dye. The prefs is a box of five feet in length, two and 

 a half width, and two depth, having holes at one end, to let off the 

 drained water. In this box the bags are piled one upon another, 

 until it is quite full ; a plank, fitted juft to go into it, is laid at top, 

 and loaded with a fufficient number of weights, which, by a gradual, 

 conftant preflbre, entirely fqueeze out the water, and the indigo 

 becomes a fine ftiff parte. It is then taken out of the bags, fpread 

 upon a plank, and cut into fquares of two inches each, which are 

 ranged, under cover, in a free air, without expolure to the fun, 

 which would be very hurtful to the colour of the dye. Whilft it is 



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