THE YELLOAV DYE STUFFS OF CHINA AND INDIA. 7 



men in the Northern Circars for giving the reddish tinge to the dhotees, or 

 men's waist cloth, worn by all classes of the population. The orange -coloured 

 garments of Jangams, Fakirs, Byragis, and other religious mendicants, 'are 

 dyed with this substance. 



Aliakoo, or Casan alay. — A small tree, common in the jungles of the 

 Carnatic, Memecylon tinctorium, the wood of which is used for firewood, 

 and the leaves brought into the markets in large quantities for dyeing pur- 

 poses. A cold infusion of the leaves yield a yellow dye. Crimson dye 

 is also said to be obtained from them. Specimens of these leaves may be 

 seen in the museum of the East India House. It was exhibited, under 

 different names, from various parts of India, at the Industrial Exhibitions 

 of Madras. The flowers are also reputed to be used for the same purpose. 

 They are obtained from Nellore, Tanjore, Salem, and Pondicherry. Those 

 obtained from Salem are considered the best. This dye stuff is very cheap, 

 but by itself the colour is evanescent. 



Kadookai (Terminalia Chebula). Thanikai (Terminalia Belerica), 

 (Terminalia cilrina). — These three kinds of Myrabolans, yield, with 

 alum, a good durable yellow, and with salts of iron a black colour. 

 They are a very common dye stuff in India, and have been so from time 

 immemorial. It is not long since they were introduced into Great 

 Britain for tanning purposes, and now a large quantity are annually im- 

 ported. The flowers of the first species are used as a dye in Travancore. 

 This is the ordinary myrabolan of commerce. The second kind are gene- 

 rally sold under the name of Bastard myrabolans, or Bedda nuts. The last 

 we have not met with in commerce. The fruits of other species of 

 Terminalia have been spoken of as being used for dyeing in some parts 

 of India ; but our information concerning them is too uncertain for present 

 publication. 



Turmeric. — The powder of the rhizome of this plant (Curcuma longa) 

 is used in India for dyeing. At Madras the following processes are said 

 to be adopted : "Mix turmeric powder in water, soak the bleached yarn in 

 this mixture, and dry ; soak the yarn again in Coosuniba (safflower) mixture, 

 and an orange colour will be produced." For yellow : " The turmeric 

 powder is mixed with water, the yarn soaked therein for twenty-four hours ; 

 it is squeezed and dried. This operation is repeated for four successive 

 days ; then the yarn is soaked again in a solution of turmeric powder, with 

 alum, morning and evening ; the yarn is squeezed and dried, when a bright 

 yellow colour is produced." To produce a straw colour: " Soak the yarn 

 in a solution of turmeric powder and water four or five times ; squeeze 

 and steep the yarn again in a solution of lime juice and fresh water ^for 

 about an hour. Squeeze it well, and, when dry, a straw colour will be 

 produced." 



