COLORING MATTERS 



291 



and is collected in hollow joints of bamboo. In these it 

 hardens into cylinders, which, after they are removed for 

 export, are found to bear the marks of the curious receptacle. 

 Gamboge mixes readily with water, and largely dissolves in 

 oils and in alcohol. For this reason as well as for its bright 

 transparent yellow color it is highly valued by artists as a 

 pigment. It is widely used also to impart a golden tinge to 



Fig. 274. ^Siamese Gamboge-tree (Garcinia Hanburyi, Gamboge Family, 

 GuttifercB) . Branch with pistillate flowers and fruit; a, pistillate flower; 

 h, staminate flower; c, stamens; d, pistil surrounded by rudimentary 

 stamens; e, pistil;/, same, cut vertically; g, ovarj% cut across. (Baillon, 

 Hanbury.) — Tree about 18 m. tall; leaves glossy; flowers yellowish; 

 fi'uit cherry-like, reddish brown. Native home. Southern Asia. 



varnish intended for certain purposes, especially in lacquer 

 for metal work. 



Indigo has been called the "King of Dyestuffs" in recogni- 

 tion of the permanency and strength of its deep blue color, 

 and the supremacy it has maintained over all rivals from the 

 time of its first use in India thousands of years ago even to 

 the present day, although an artificial indigo is now coming 

 into use. Curiously enough the blue coloring matter is not 

 present as such in indigo-plants. It is derived from a sub- 



