374 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



Some leaves of the Cordia sebestena, called by 

 the natives etow, are wetted with it, and then laid on 

 a plantain leaf. They are turned about till they 

 become flaccid, and are then gently squeezed, gradu- 

 ally increasing the pressure, but not sufficiently to 

 occasion fractures. As the liquor is imbibed more is 

 applied, and in about ten minutes the leaves are 

 fully saturated. The fluid is then squeezed from 

 them, and strained into small cups made of the plan- 

 tain leaf; it is then ready for use, and imparts a vivid 

 red colour *. 



Turnsole, prepared from the croton tinctorium, 

 can scarcely be classed among dyeing substances; 

 but it is used as colouring matter and is an article of 

 commerce, and therefore claims some notice. The 

 croton grows in the neighbourhood of Montpelier, 

 and is called there maurelle. 



It is an annual plant producing a round herbaceous 

 branching stalk with many leaves, standing upon 

 long slender foot-stalks. It seldom exceeds nine 

 inches in height. The flowers are produced in short 

 spikes from the sides of the stalks at the end of the 

 branches. They appear in July or the beginning of 

 August, which is the proper time for collecting them. 

 At this time the peasants assemble from the distance 

 of fifteen or twenty leagues round, and each gathers, 

 on his own account, the flowering tops of the plants. 

 These are immediately bruised in a mill, and the 

 dark green juice is expressed into stone vessels. It 

 is then, without loss of time, poured over pieces of 

 canvas or linen provided for the purpose. These 

 first appear of a lively green, but afterwards change 

 to a red-purple hue. Thus prepared, they are packed 

 and sold by the French under the name of touTnesols 

 en dr&peaux. These shreds are employed to colour 

 * Hawfcesbury's Voyages* 



