3/6 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCA-R. 



oil or aether, it in a great meafure lofcs ita 

 ela^icitj, and in that ftate it is very proper 

 for coating over filk, in order to render it 

 impervious to air or water. M. Bernard 

 lately has employed elaftk gum for a variety 

 of purpofes, which it would be too tedious 

 to enumerate. I muft, however, obferve 

 that the Chinefe have been long acquainted 

 with the art of diflblving this elaftic gum, 

 and of giving it various colours, M. Ber- 

 tin, mini ft er of ftate, was fo kind as to fhew 

 lue feveral articles made of it, the moft re* 

 markable of which was a fmali ball, per- 

 leclly refembling a ball of amber, 



Bfigfiets. riant from which real indigo 

 is procured in Madagafcar. The iflandei's 

 extra (Tt this dye from it by a very fimple 

 operation. When the plant begins to Bower, 

 tliey infufe the ftera and the leaves in water. 

 After they have become putrid, the water 

 aflumes a violet colour, and when this cq- 



lour 



