^8 SUMATRA, 
nufa<£ture It into a foUd lub fiance, as is done elfe where in the Eaft and 
Weil Indies. They leave the ftdks and branches for fome days in wa- 
ter to foak and macerate, then boil it, and work with their hands fomc 
chimam (quick lime) among it, with leaves of the pacoo fitbka (a fpe- 
cics of fern) • for fixing the color. They then drain it off, and ufe it 
in the liquid ftate. There is another kind of indigo (tan&om Mar) 
which appears to be peculiar to this country, as I fhewed fome of the 
leaves to botanills of the moft extenlive knowledge, who informed me 
thjt they were totally unacquainted with it. The common kind is known 
to have fmall, pinnated leaves, growing on ftalks imperfcdliy ligneous, 
about five feet high. The tarroom akkar, on the contrary, is a vine or 
creeping plant, with leaves four or five inches long, in lhape like a lau- 
rel, but finer, and of a dark green. It poffelTcs the fame qualities, and 
produces the fame color with the other fort : they are prepared in the 
fame manner, and ufed indifcriminatcly, no preference being given by 
the natives to one above the other^ except that the akkar^ by reafon of 
the largenefs of the foliage, yields a greater proportion of fediment. I 
conceive that it mud be a valuable plant, and have written to my friends 
on Sumatra to tranfmit me fpecimcns of the £owers and feed, that it's 
identity and clafs may be accurately afcertained. 
Sappang (fapan or Brafil wood). The heart of this being cut into 
chips, fteeped for a con fider able time in water, and then boiled, is 
ufed for dying here, as in other countries. The cloth or thread is re- 
peatedly dipped in this water, and hung to dry betw^een each wetting, 
till it is brought to the fliadc required. To fix the color, taway (allum) 
is added in boiling. 
Maiccdm (mcrwda citrif&lia), A tree, the outward parts of the root 
of which^ being dried, pounded, and boiled in water, afford a red dye| 
for fixing which, the alhes yielded by the flalks of the fruit and midribs 
of the leaves of the coconut, are employed. Sometimes the bark of the 
hefappsng tree is mixed with the roots of the mamdoo. 
Ckepudda 
