368 



INDIGO. 



and the whole is troubled and muddy ; it is now suffered to settle ; 

 then the clearer part is permitted to run off into another succession of 

 vessels, from whence the water is conveyed away as fast as it clears on 

 the top, until nothing remains but a thick mud, which is put into bags 

 of coarse linen. These are hung up and left for some time, until the 

 moisture is entirely drained off. 



" To finish the drying, this mud is turned out of the bags, and 

 worked upon boards of some porous timber with a wooden spade. It 

 is frequently exposed to the morning and evening sun, but for a short 

 time only, and then it is put into boxes or frames, which is called 

 curing ; exposed again to the sun in the same cautious manner, until, 

 with great labour and attention, the operation is finished, and the 

 valuable dye-stuff fitted for market. 



" The greatest skill and care are required in every part of the 

 process, or there may be great danger of ruining the whole ; the water 

 must not be suffered to remain too short or too long a time, either in 

 the steeper or heater ; the beating itself must be nicely managed, so as 

 not to exceed or fall short; and in the curing the exact medium 

 between too much or too little drying is not easily attained." 



Colombia. — The preparation of indigo is a business still in its 

 infancy in Carthagena. Little more than experiments have been made 

 as yet, but the result is encouraging, samples having been valued in 

 Paris at 8 to 11 francs per lb. ; 503 lbs. were shipped in 1873. 



Humboldt states that the indigo plants grown in Mexico are J. anil, 

 I. tinctoria, and I. disperma. This product is obtained in large 

 quantities in the States of Yucatan, Oanaca, and Colima. 



Costa Bica. — There is no obstacle, except the invariable one of 

 want of labour, in the way of indigo production here. What was 

 exported from this republic some years back proved to be a fine 

 parcel of " flores," and the undertaking was abandoned solely in con- 

 sequence of a revolution, when the laboui'ers were withdrawn from 

 the works at an hour's notice for military service, involving the 

 proprietor in heavy loss. 



Guatemala. — The exports of indigo from Guatemala in 1872 were 

 made to the following countries : 



Cwts. 



England 15,598 



France 3,830 



Germany 10,933 



United States 5,872 



Behze 3,900 



Total 40,133 



Nicaragua. — Indigo was the staple article for exportation in the 

 time of the Spaniards, and even for many years afterwards ; but want 

 of labour, capital, attention and proper protection, during twenty years 

 of revolutionary tumult, has entirely suspended the raising of indigo. 

 It has been found by experience that the indigo raised on the high 

 lands of Nicaragua, although less in quantity, is far superior to the 

 San Salvador indigo, which is now represented as being the best in 

 Central America. 



