4 
“ four or five hours time. After this process has been gone through, 
“ the paste is placed in cases with curing holes, with a weight placed 
“ on it, and a cloth at the bottom to prevent the finely crushed powder 
« from passing through. When the above process has been gone 
“ through, the paste should be in a fit state for shipment. It is then 
“ packed in layers, with plantain leaves between each layer to retain 
“ the necessary amount of moisture and to check acidit 
A method for preparing Annatto, at one time prevalent i in the West 
India Islands, is well described by Dr. Macfadyen in the Flora of 
rocur 
“ water on the seeds in any conve enient vessel; after stirring the ite 
“ the water, with the farina suspended in it, is poured off; and this is 
“ repeated till the naked seeds are left. The e water, after allowing it to 
stand for some time, is then to be poured off dar, leaving the Arnotta 
« which has settled at the bottom. ‘The addition of an acid is said to 
“ hasten the process. The sediment is attends to be placed in 
‘* shallow vessels and dried by evaporation in the Pe When it has 
acquired a proper consistence, it is to be made into cakes or balls; 
$ aie which it is to be ey roughly dried till fant, when it is in a fit 
to 
To this Dr. Macfadyen oak some general por as regards Annatto 
and its local uses in the West Indies, which, as they occur in a boo 
now comparatively scarce, may be usefully Beori k in these notes :— 
atto is of a resinous nature, and dissolves more completely in 
< atien than in water. When prepared for market it is moderately 
“ hard, of a brown colour externally, ¡jand dull red within, It is 
bi occasionally imported in cakes of two or three pounds weight, of the 
“ consistence of paste, wrapped up in large flag [banana] leaves, and 
a packed i in casks. The roll Annatto is much harder, and of a very supe- 
“ rior quality, containing a larger proportion of the colouring matter. It 
“ was formerly employed in dyeing silk, to produce the colour called 
“ Aurora. As the addition of an alkali i increases its solubility, it is the 
(13 
“ attacks of insects. Itis said to be esteemed by painters as a colour. 
“ In Gloucestershire it is employed under the name of cheese colouring, 
“ to give a aa id pris tint to cheese, and in ie S to butter. 
“ It has never any great character as a medici It is a gentle 
“ purgative, cori alight stomachic; it has been employed i in dysentey 
be as an antidote for the bitter Gu The Spaniards use it 
recommended by the ees of os Botanic Gardens at 
cose for ae apain g Annatto, and which, no doubt, has been followed 
6s : it : 
appears to be (there are some discrepancies in different accounts) the 

