INDIGO. 291 



article, than others employ their ingenuity 

 to adulterate it, or substitute for it some 

 base imitation. Indigo had no sooner found 

 its way into Rome, than spurious drugs were 

 coloured and substituted ; and, although 

 they were ingenious, we deem it better to 

 avoid the mention, and make known the 

 most simple means of detecting frauds when 

 practised in indigo. The best is of a dark 

 blue inclining to violet, bright and sparkling 

 when broken, and will float on water. It 

 may be tried by dissolving a little in a glass 

 of water, when, if pure, it will mix equally 

 with the liquor ; but if otherwise, will sepa- 

 rate, and fall to the bottom. Indigo may 

 also be tried in fire, where it will burn en- 

 tirely away if good, but the adulterations 

 remain unconsumed. Mr. Wynne says in 

 his History of the British Empire in Ame- 

 rica, " Perhaps in no branch of manufacture 

 can so large a profit be made upon so mode- 

 rate a capital, as in that of indigo ; nor can 

 the manufacture be carried on in any country 

 with greater advantages than in Carolina, 

 where the climate is healthy, provisions plen- 

 tiful and cheap, and every thing necessary 

 for the purpose procured with the greatest 

 facility. 



u2 



