70 THE RED DYE-STUFFS OF INDIA. 



In Madura the paler tint is preferred. The cloths dyed at Madura after 

 they are woven are exported in considerable numbers. The chay-root is in 

 this case mixed with Morinda bark. 



The other colours dyed Avith chay-root are — (1) Chocolate, which is 

 obtained by the subsequent application of pitpli cliuckay to the red obtained 

 by the chay. It is much prized in the bandana or Pulicat handkerchiefs 

 exported to the West Indies. 



(2) By the addition of salt of iron mixed with syrup a fast black colour 

 is obtained, fit for printing chintzes, but which is never used for dyeing 

 thread, which would be rotted by the process. 



(3) A very fine red is produced by adding safflower with lime-juice and 

 soda, but this is not a fast colour. The mordant always used is alum. 



Of late years the demand for this dye-stuff has fallen off in consequence 

 of the preference given to another material called Cherinji, 



The native process for dyeing red with chay-root is very complicated, and 

 is thus described for 3^ lbs. of white twist : — 



Take of sweet oil fib., ashes of milk- hedge* fib., sheep's-dung T % lbs. ; 

 mix, and keep in an earthen vessel for the space of four or five years—the 

 older it is the better. Then, when about to commence the process of 

 dyeing to the above mixture, add fresh ashes of milk-hedge 22 pints, spring- 

 water 11 pints ; mix and strain, and add to the strained fluid; shake the 

 whole well together, and then add sweet oil 1^ lbs., sheep's-dung ljlbs., 

 spring water 2J pints ; mix the whole in a vessel. Then steep the twist in 

 it for an hour, pressing and squeezing it well with the hands, to cause it to 

 absorb the fluid fully ; after which leave it to soak. On the following day 

 remove the twist, and dry it in the sun. Then take in a vessel afresh ashes 

 of milk-hedge 16^ pints, spring water 83- pints ; mix and strain, and add to 

 the strained fluid sweet oil ljlbs. Shake the whole well together, and steep 

 the thread in it for an hour, using the hands as before ; leave it to soak all 

 night. Next morning take out the thread, and dry it in the sun. In the 

 evening of the same day take in a vessel afresh ashes of milk-hedge 16£ 

 pints, spring water 85 pints ; mix and strain, and add sweet oil fib. ; steep 

 the thread in the mixture, using the hands as before, and leave till next 

 morning. Then remove, and dry in the sun. Next take afresh ashes of milk- 

 hedge 8J pints, sweet oil 6 oz., spring water 83 pints ; mix, and steep the 

 thread as before ; leave it soaking till next morning ; then remove, and dry 

 in the sun. Take again the same mixture, in the same proportions as the 

 last ; mix, and steep in as before until next morning. Then take afresh 

 ashes of milk-hedge 4| pints, sweet oil 3 oz., spring water 7 pints ; mix, 

 and follow the process as before, and take afresh ashes of milk-hedge 2J 

 pints, sweet oil 1 oz., spring water 5^ pints ; mix, and follow the process as 

 before. Then take afresh ashes of milk-hedge If pints, sweet oil f oz., 

 spring water h\ pints ; mix, and follow the process as before. Dry the 

 thread for three days in the sun ; on the fourth day take afresh ashes of 



Milk-liedgc is a species of Euphorbia. 



