Part IV.J Purax Sixg ; Note on Burmese Varnish. 
30t 
any volatile matter of a poisonous character, which may be present 
in the varnish, evaporates, and besides the particles of the varnish 
are brought to a more perfect state of uniform distribution than 
they would have without this treatment. It is extremely import- 
ant, in the author’s opinion, foe the complete homogeneity of the 
final dried paint that the constituent particles of the varnish should 
be in a state of uniform distribution before application, 
5. Iron^ vessels should be scrupulously avoided in making lac- 
quer of various colours as the rust from the iron vessels by combina- 
tion with Urushic acid makes the colour of the varnish a dull brown. 
8. In the underground cellar, where the lacquered ware is put 
to dry, arrangement should be made to keep hanging wet pieces of 
cloth, which should be soaked anew from time to time with cold 
water. Further the sides of the cellar should also be kept con- 
stantly wet in order to constantly maintain the necessary amount 
of moisture in its atmosphere. 
If the air of the drying cellar is always kept damp in this man- 
ner to a sufficient degree, and if the varnish before storing or appli- 
cation has been stirred as described previously, it is hoped that the 
varnish will harden sooner than it would without observing these 
directions. 
7. Finally, the importance of avoiding the use of sesamum oil 
as an adulterant may once more be emphasized here. Should the 
use of some oil be a necessity in certain stages of lacquering, lin- 
seed oil is recommended to be used instead of sesame oil. 
The art of lacquering has been carried to a much higher state of 
perfection in Japan than in Burma. While the Japanese lacquerer, 
on the whole, has considerably improved this industrial art in- 
herited from his ancestors, the people of Burma have shown com- 
paratively little progress. Thus, in spite, of the great artistic 
ability of the Burmans, their lacquered articles cannot claim to 
equal, far less excel, the Japanese ware in the beauty and fineness 
of the paints and the richness and elegance of the decorations. 
This state of affairs, when the lacquers employed both in Burma 
and Japan are identical in all essential characteristics, is to be 
explained by the conservative spirit of the Burmese people who, it 
* Ferrous sulphate or acetate (from 05 to 2 per cent.) is used by the Japanese 
in preparing their black lacquer. But even this prepared black lacquer is not to be 
kept in iron vessels to avoid the increase of the iron contents. , 
