INDIGO. 285 



teen to twenty denarii the pound, and an- 

 swers well for painters to form shadows from 

 lights in their works." In the sixth chapter 

 of his 35th book, he says, Indico is one of 

 the colours which the masters deliver to the 

 painter by weight and measure, on account 

 of its costliness ; and although it is so much 

 esteemed, it is only a slimy mud, cleaving to 

 the foam that is gathered about canes and 

 reeds : it looks black while pounding, but, 

 when dissolved, it produces a lovely colour, 

 between purple and azure. 



It appears from this account, that the In- 

 dians had not then manufactured indigo, but 

 that it was formed by the plants falling into 

 water, where the colour, being discharged by 

 fermentation, clung to the canes and reeds as 

 described. 



We should find that there are but few 

 arts which do not owe their discovery to 

 simple causes, could we trace their origin. 



" Thy art of building from the bee receive ; 



Learn of the mole to plough, the worm to weave. 



Learn of the little nautilus to sail, 



Spread the thin oar, and catch the driving gale." 



The finest indigo is brought from Java ; 

 it is likewise made on the coast of Coroman- 



