May 1, 1864.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



AFRICAN VEGETABLE PRODUCTS. 473 



of a papery nature similar to birch bark. These are of the brightest 

 yellow, but no colour can be extracted from them ; that which 

 is contained in the wood itself would seem to be in the form 

 of a resinous secretion. By the use of alum as a mordant, a good 

 durable colour can be obtained. What is a most singular fact is, that 

 having this dye-wood so easily accessible, they get the bulk of their 

 yellow dye from other sources. The pretty baskets, hats, and orna- 

 mental articles in the manufacture of which they are so clever, and 

 which are plaited with the leaves of the native date palm {Phoenix 

 spinosa), are always composed of three colours — black, red, and yellow — 

 very harmoniously interwoven. These colours are extracted from the 

 barks of three distinct trees, and are very apparent, even in the outer 

 bark ; indeed, the colours of the barks are almost as distinct as when 

 extracted. The colours are obtained probably in the most simple 

 manner, that of boiling the bark. Specimens of these woods with the 

 bark upon them, together with articles dyed with them, are in the 

 valuable collection at Kew, and were brought home by Dr. Kirk, the 

 indefatigable collector and medical officer to the Zambesi Expedition. 

 It is to be regretted that he was unable to obtain specimens of the leaves 

 and flowers of each, whereby to determine their scientific nomenclature, 

 but the difficulties to be encountered in collecting in uncivilised Africa 

 are not a few. Many things obtainable through the instrumentality of 

 the natives are extremely difficult to trace to their right source. 



In Soudan the roots of Cochlospermum Planchoni, Hook, fil., are much 

 used as a dyeing agent, a good yellow colour being easily extracted from 

 them. This is probably the source from whence is obtained the yellow 

 colouring matter of the mats and baskets of the people of this coast. 

 They employ the leaves of Phoenix spinosa in a similar manner to those 

 of the East Coast. By the ingenuity of these people many other plants 

 are made to yield dyes for their own domestic uses. A species of 

 Sorghum (S. vulgare, Pers.), which would appear common to both the 

 East and West, gives a crimson colour, from the sheathing base of the 

 leaves ; and the mode of extracting it seems equally well-known to the 

 natives of both sides of Africa. On the Niger it is much used for dyeing- 

 mats, nets, cotton fabrics, &c. 



In Sierra Leone a yellow dye is obtained from the bark of a shrub 

 Ccelocline polycarpa, Hook. fil., and is called "yellow Gbeyido bark." All 

 sorts of things are used as dyes in various parts of Africa ; in fact, any- 

 thing from which a colour can be extracted. The wood of a species 

 of Afzelia is used on the Rovuma for dyeing black. Pods of species of 

 Acacia are made in that part of Africa to give a brown colour to their 

 black cloths. Orchella weed is one of the largest articles of commerce 

 in dye-stuffs imported from Africa, and it would seem to grow almost 

 universally in any favourable situation as far in the interior as lias yet 

 been explored. Barwood and camwood are also exported from the West 

 Coast into Liverpool, and are used in this country for dyeing red. The 

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