124 DYEING. 



for the night. This method of dyeing silk red is called by 

 Patani and Kelantan Malays " chelu mala" (or, in standard 

 Malay, " chelup malau.") 



Orange: — (2) To dye silk orange [which is called kuning 

 pin* masak, or " ripe betel-nut yellow"], the silk may be dipped 

 into the already used red dye. Only a weak solution is required, 

 so that if the strength of the dye (pati) has been absorbed by 

 the first instalment of silk it does not really matter. Of course if 

 a new solution is brewed, care must be taken to see that it is not 

 too strong, but the former method is generally favoured. The 

 silk is dipped into the liquid and stirred about, and then boiled 

 a little, till it is as red as the pulut-pulut flower,* my inform- 

 ant declared. On being taken out again, the dye is wrung 

 out of it, when it is laid aside for the time being. About a 

 " chupak " of the fruits of the kasoma klin (Jcasumba kling) 

 are then squeezed (ramah) into a dish (pasu), the husks bein^ 

 thrown away. To these are added about ten of the fruits of 

 belimbing masam, which is also called " Buah k'rih " in Kelantan 

 and Patani from its being used for the express purpose of clean- 

 ing K'ris blades (di-bachse k'rih). These being squeezed into the 

 pasu, a pinch or two of alum is added, (as a mordant), and the 

 mixture is ready. The silk is dipped into this liquid and knead- 

 ed in it for a few moments (sa-jenih), after which it is boiled 

 for a short while on the fire. When taken out, it is hung up 

 upon a line in a shady place to dry (di-sida di-tedoh).| Shade 

 is of importance, as if it is exposed to the sun the colour will 

 fade. It is however exposed to the dew (di-perembong) every 

 night for three nights consecutively. 



Dark orange is obtained from chips of the heart of the 

 jackfruit (ncmgka) tree, with the usual mordant (alum and 

 asam gelugor). 



Yellow : — (3) and all the colours now to be mentioned are 

 now usually obtained from aniline dye-stuffs imported from 

 Singapore. In the absence of such dyes however they are still 

 obtained as follows. 



* Urena lobata whose flower is pink. — //. N. R. 

 t In Selangor Malay = Sindal. 



Jour. Straits Branch, 



