DYEING. 127 



•' kSdr&ng " tree. The heart of the tree (terah) is taken and 

 steeped in water until the infusion becomes of a sufficently deep 

 red colour. Green is obtained by taking the old leaves of 

 the Indigo and mixing- them with the juice of young cocoanut- 

 fruit pounded small {oyer mumbang* di-tumboh). 



Yellowf is obtained from equal proportions of turmeric 

 (kunyit) and lime (kapor) which are mixed and allowed to 

 ferment (di-rapai jadi vagi). 



Purple is made by dipping red-dyed yarn in indigo. 



Before concluding I may perhaps here add for the sake 

 of comparison a few general notes on typical dyeing processes 

 on the west coast (Selangor). 



In Selangor mangrove bark (kulit bakan) is used as a 

 black dye, whilst from isi temu kunyit or temu kunchi and temu 

 panh (especially from the first of these three) yellow dye is 

 obtained. The yellow dye obtained from these latter prepara- 

 tions is darkened by the addition of lime (kapor) and asam 

 gelugor. 



Red dye is obtained from Sepang and kesumba k'ling: 

 green from bunga telang (the creeper, not the bamboo) ; black 

 from the fruit of the kedudok (Melastoma) and from the fruit 

 of the tumu, the latter giving the best results. 



* In JRaman called gfimje (=gumbang). 



t Probably the exact colour obtained would depend upon the 

 length of the immersion. It might be expected that such a mixture 

 as described would produce, when its full strength was brought out, a 

 sort of burnt ochre. 



R. A. Hoc., No. 38, 1902. * 9 



