of alkalinity or acidity (red for acids, blue for alkalis), was made first from 

 0. tartarea, the chief ingredient of cudbear, and later from Rocella and 

 other lichens. Turnsole was another kind of litmus, sometimes used for 

 coloring Dutch cheese (Kok, 1966, p. 264). 



Black Dyes 



*LOGWOOD {Haematoxylon campechianum) 



Also called Campeachy wood or blackwood in English; bois d'Inde and hois bleu 

 (Fr.); das Blauholz (Ger.) 



The bloody disputes which this useful Tree has occasioned between the Spaniards 

 and the English, are too well known to say much of here ... (I wish) . . . that the 

 inhabitants of our Southern plantations could be induced to propagate it, as well for 

 their own advantage, as that we may be supplied by them, when wholly deprived of 

 getting it from the Spaniards, as we have hitherto done, either by force or stealth. 



This Statement written by Mark Gatesby in a volume first published in 

 1731 suggests that conflicts over logwood trade were fairly common during 

 the early years of the 18th century (1771, vol. 2, p. 66).^ 



Probably logwood was introduced to England soon after Queen Elizabeth 

 ascended the throne. A few years later, about 1581, a law was passed 

 prohibiting the use of logwood because the colors it produced were so 

 fugitive. The truth is that too little was known about mordanting pro- 

 cedures to fix the dyes on the fibers properly at that time. The logwood 

 prohibition laws were repealed nearly a hundred years later during the 

 reign of Charles II. 



The earliest English settlers must have brought it with them to the 

 American colonies for it seems to have been known here during the 17 th 

 century (otherwise it would not have been referred to in the Navigation 

 Acts of 1660 and 1671). Although logwood is not named specifically in 

 these acts, the "other dyeing woods" mentioned very probably refer to 

 logwood. The wording of the acts strongly suggests that logwood was used 

 in the colonies as early as the third quarter of the 17 th century (Bishop, 

 1866, vol. 1, p. 87). At that time American ship owners began to carry on 

 an active trade with non-British ports even though the Navigation Acts 

 expressly forbade such dealings. Currency was needed and this valuable 

 dyestuflf which was easily sold in foreign ports brought in needed currency. 



Logwood grew naturally in Central America, Mexico, and parts of 

 northern South America. From Spanish-controlled Campeachy and 

 British-owned Honduras it was brought to Jamaica and other West Indian 



''The third edition of a publication that first appeared in 1731 (vol. 1) and 1743 

 (vol. 2). These volumes were based on Catesby's observations made between 1712 

 and 1726. 



45 



