THE YELLOW DYE STUFFS OF CHINA AND INDIA. 5 



more effectually than some colours considered more durable. Concentrated 

 sulphuric acid hardly affects it ; strong chlorhydric acid changes it to 

 orange, azotic acid to yellow. This colouring matter has recently been the 

 subject of experiment by M. Von Orth and Professor Rochleder. 



Tchan-tsi. — These are also the fruits of a species of Gardenia 

 {Gardenia fiorida). They are ovoid, and not so large as the preceding. 

 This kind comes chiefly from Ningpo and Shanghae, and is more esteemed 

 than the other, which is plentiful about Canton. 



Kwa-wi. — A third kind, probably the fruits of Gardenia radicans, appears 

 to be in use for a similar purpose in Japan, and perhaps in some parts of the 

 Chinese empire. The fruit of this species is smaller, and nearly round. There 

 is still some uncertainty as to whether the botanical species are correctly 

 assigned to these local names. The colouring matter obtained by Professor 

 Rochleder from the fruits he calls Crocine. In its decomposition by 

 muriatic or sulphuric acid, a body is obtained, to which he gives the name 

 of Crocetine. This is a true dye stuff. Tissues, mordanted with tin salt, are 

 dyed dingy greenish yellow by it ; but when treated with water containing 

 ammonia, acquire a brilliant golden yellow colour, which resists exposure 

 to light and air. More minute particulars of these results may be found 

 translated in the Pharmaceutical Journal, Vol. XVII., p. 626. 



The Yellow Dyes of India. 



Those now to be enumerated must not be considered as a complete 

 list of the yellow dye stuffs of India, but only such as are of primary 

 importance, and best known. 



Capilla-rung. — The pubescence covering the capsules of a large tree 

 (Rottlera tinctorial), is collected for sale in Mysore, where it is used for 

 dyeing silk of an orange colour. The tree is widely spread over the Madras 

 Presidency, and large supplies might easily be obtained. The colouring 

 matter does not require a mordant, all that is necessary being to mix it with 

 water containing about half its weight of carbonate of soda. " On silk the 

 colour is a rich flame or orange tint of great beauty and extreme stability." 

 The material, as supplied, contains between seventy and eighty per cent, of 

 colouring matter. Professor Anderson, of Glasgow, examined and reported 

 on this dye in 1855.* To dye orange, the following method is adopted at 

 Madras: "Make a mixture of Fuller's earth and Cupl a powder (Capilla 

 rung) ; add a small quantity of alum, and boil the silk (which has been 

 previously bleached and dyed red) for two hours ; when cold, squeeze and 

 dry, an orange colour will be produced." 



The Capilla rung may be obtained in London, it being used medicinally 

 under the name of Kamala, under which name it is fully described by 

 Daniel Hanbury, Esq., in the Pharmaceutical Journal, with especial refer- 

 ence to its medicinal properties. * " Kamala, as found in the Indian bazaars, 



* " Edinburgh Philosophical Journal," April, 1855. 



f Messrs. Brown & Co., Chemists, of Liverpool-street, City, have, we understand, a 

 large quantity of this drug in stock in the docks. — Editor. 



