108 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. XIX. 



2. — Notes on Dyeing in Ceylon. 



The three plants most extensively used for dyeing in Ceylon 

 are chaya (Oldenlandia umbellata) , patangi (Ccesalpinia sappan) > 

 and jak (Artocarpus integri folia). 



Chaya root dyeing is, or rather was, only practised in the 

 Northern Province, and especially in the Mannar District ; 

 " Painter street " in Mannar is still occupied by persons of 

 the Dyeing caste. Casie Chitty states in his Gazetteer (1834) 

 that " chaya root, which yields a scarlet dye, grows wild 

 almost all over the northern districts, and the collection as 

 well as the sale of it was once the exclusive monopoly of 

 Government, farmed out to private individuals. In 1 830, how- 

 ever, the monopoly was abolished, the revenue having declined 

 from £2,000 to £200 per annum ; and the trade is now not 

 only left open, but free from all taxes. None but a particular 

 class of natives dig for the roots, and when under a monopoly 

 they were remunerated at the rate of § d. per pound. Indigo 



likewise grows wild but does not seem to flourish when 



cultivated." In Trimen's Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon, 

 IT., 316 (1894), it is stated that the root was then still gathered 

 to a small extent, and that a village in Mannar is wholly 

 occupied by a caste who dye cloths with it. " The colour is 

 a dull pinkish purple and very durable. There was formerly a 

 considerable export to India. . . . Extracts from the Dutch 

 records referring to the collection of this plant for Government 

 are given by the late Colonial Surgeon Ondaatje in the Appen- 

 dix to the Ceylon Almanac for 1853, pp. 14-16." 



The fullest description of the dyeing process is given by 

 S. Katiresu in the Ceylon National Review, No. 2, 1906. 

 The chaya root is generally used in combination with other 

 dyes ; these are applied in the required places after the 

 parts which are to remain white have been protected by bees- 

 wax, and then comes the dyeing proper with chaya root. 

 <( Ina caldron or earthen vessel .... some 4 or 5 gallons of water 

 are gently heated and about a quart of chaya root powder is 

 put in and boiled gently, say the heat not to rise over 110° F. 



