110 



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



[Vol. XIX. 



custom of Sinhalese painters of painting on cloth with pigments 

 {as in the Peradeniya Exhibition hangings) is quite different 

 and comparatively unsatisfactory. Chaya root dyeing, how- 

 ever, is almost a thing of the past, for alizarine or aniline dyes 

 are now almost or quite exclusively used in place of it, of which 

 Mr. Katiresu states that " the colour produced is totally 

 different from the chaya root dye. It has none of the good 

 qualities of the chaya root. It does not help to preserve the 

 cloth, nor is it warmer, nor can it stand the washing of the 

 dhoby." 



So much for chaya root. 



I am inclined to think that madder and indigo have not 

 been used as dyes in Ceylon, and that the blue and red cotton 

 used by Sinhalese weavers has always been imported, as is 

 now the case. Colonial Surgeon Ondaatje states that madder, 

 though found in Ceylon, appears never to have been used by 

 the Sinhalese as a dye. Trimen says the same.* Of indigo 

 Trimen remarks that it is not cultivated in Ceylon, but the 

 " natives of Jaffna use the leaves of the wild plant in obtaining 

 a dye for cloth." Mr. Nevill (Taprobanian, Vol. L, p. 112) says : 

 " There is in Ceylon a wild indigo, but it does not appear ever 

 to have been exported, or to have been of special value. It 

 affords a bright pale blue dye, locally, but slightly, used." 

 The blue was also made use of as a pigment. It may be worth 

 while to encourage the cultivation of indigo on a small scale 

 in the northern districts. 



Patangi (Gcesalpinia sappan) is the most important of 

 other Ceylon dyes. It is used for colouring palm and grass 

 leaves for mat weaving , a fine red ; it is also applied to rattan 

 for baskets, to ola leaves for various purposes, and to the 

 niyanda fibre used by Rodiyas and Kinnaras for making 

 whips, brooms, and mats. 



* But Mr. Donald Ferguson reminds me that ruiva roots were used 

 in Dutch times for dyeing. (See Lee's Ribeiro 173-4. 195 Pielaats 

 Memoir 29.) Post, ruiva = Lat. rubia — madden 



