CHAT ROOT. 449 



The imports of arnotto have been as follows : 



Retained for 

 Ibs. home consumption. 



1834 252,981 



1835 163,421 



1839 303,489 224,794 



1840 408,469 330,490 



1847 270,000 296,821 



1849 162,400 145,824 



1850 301,504 231,280 



The price of flag arnotto in the London market, in June 1853, 

 was Is. per Ib. 



We imported from France, in 1850, 1,924 cwt. of roll or flag 

 arnotto, of the official value of 21,499 ; and in 1851, 1,253 cwt., 

 worth 13,968. 



W r ood dje exported from Ceylon 



Value Quantity 



cwts. 



1848 . .. 1,359 



1849 2,035 



1850 1,766 5,206 



1851 259 776 



1852 ^ 770 2,396 



CHAT- BOOT. There is a plant called chay, the Oldenlandia 

 umbellata, which is extensively cultivated as a dye plant in the 

 East, especially on the coasts of Coromandel, Nellcre, Masulipatam, 

 Malabar, and other parts of India. The outer bark of the roots 

 furnishes the coloring matter for the durable red for which the 

 chintzes of India are famous. Chay-root forms a considerable article 

 of export from Ceylon. The wild plant there is considered prefer- 

 able ; the roots, which are shorter, yielding one-fourth part more 

 coloring matter, and the right to dig it is farmed out. It grows 

 spontaneously on light, dry, sandy ground on the sea coast ; the 

 cultivated roots are slender, with a few lateral fibres, and from one 

 to two feet long. The dye is said to have been tried in Europe, but 

 not with very advantageous effect. Dr. Bancroft suspects it may 

 be injured by the long voyage, but he adds that it cannot produce 

 any effect which may not be more cheaply obtained from madder. 



This red dye, similar to Munjeet, is used to a great extent in 

 the southern parts of Hindostan by the native dyers. 



It is not held in very good estimation in Europe but seems to 

 deserve a better reputation than it at present possesses. Attention 

 was drawn to it as a dye-stuff in 1798, by a special minute of the 

 Board of Trade recommending its importation ; but Dr. Bancroft, 

 who made some experiments with a sample of damaged chay-root, 

 considered it inferior to madder and hence discouraged its further 

 importation. 



The bark and root of various species of Morinda (M. citrifolia 

 and tinctoria) are used in different parts of the East Indies, and 

 considered a very valuable red dye. The colors dyed with it are 

 for the most part exceedingly brilliant, and the coloring matter is 



2 a 



