158 MR. E. R. WATSON ON 



and raising, apparently by removing a small quantity of imperfectly fixed 



dye, is known to improve alizarine dyeings on silk and is invariably 



resorted to. 



Lac-dye. — McCann (loc. cit., p. 54) states that to prepare the dye bath the lac-dye 



is generally boiled with water to which alum and an alkali are added. In some 



districts, however, alum is not employed, the dye being merely boiled with saji or 



wood ashes. In other districts no auxiliary of any kind is employed. 



I was unable to obtain satisfactory dyeings either with the lac-dye alone without 

 auxiliary, or by using lac-dye mixed with alkali. Silk mordanted with alum or 

 alum-soda was dyed when boiled with the lac-dye and water only. 



(1) Five gms. of crude stick-lac were boiled with water, cooled and strained. 



The residue was again extracted with hot water. Five gms. of silk 

 mordanted with alum (as previously described) were boiled for 30 minutes 

 in the coloured liquor obtained from the stick-lac. A medium purplish-red 

 shade was obtained. 



(2) Five gms. of silk mordanted with alum-soda (as previously described) were 



boiled for 30 minutes in the dye decoction from 10 gms. of crude 



stick-lac. A full purplish-red shade was obtained. 

 Kamala. — McCann {loc. cit. f p. 19) : " The kamala-guri powder is used for 

 dyeing silks, and occasionally cottons, a brilliant yellow .... In Bengal the red 

 powder is dissolved by the addition of a solution of various alkaline ashes, obtained 

 by burning plants , and the development of the yellow colouring principle is, in no 

 case, brought about by the addition of acids, but merely by allowing the cloth 

 steeping in the red liquid to dry by exposure to the air. It is said not to require a 

 mordant, but frequently alum is added for that purpose." 



(1) Five gms. of silk were boiled for 30 minutes in a dye-bath containing 5 gms. 



of sajimati and 5 gms. kamala powder. A full bright yellow shade was 

 obtained. 



(2) Five gms. of silk mordanted with alum (as previously described), were 



boiled for 30 minutes in a bath containing 1 gm. of sajimati and 5 gms. 



of kamala powder. A full orange yellow shade was obtained. 

 Singhar.— Banerjee {loc. cit., p. 24) says with regard to the application of this 

 dye : ' ' The cloth to be dyed is immersed in an infusion of this flower and then dried 

 in the shade. A little acid or alum is sometimes added." 



(1) Five gms. of silk boiled for 30 minutes in a bath containing 5 gms. of 



flowers. A full bright yellow shade was obtained. 



(2) Silk mordanted with alum was similarly dyed. A similar shade was obtained. 

 Jackwood. — Banerjee {loc. cit., p. 26) : " It is generally used for silks. Ordinarily, 



cloth is coloured by simply steeping it in a solution obtained by boiling saw- dust of 

 jackwood in water. From Chittagong the following interesting account has been 

 received : " The following process is used by Buddhist priests (Funghi)* or by their 

 disciples in dyeing the yellow robes worn by them. The heart of an old jack tree is 



Generally spelt Hpungyi (E. R. W.). 



