INDIGO. 
191 
boiled a certain time. Into this dye, when cool, 
they dip their silk or cotton, which, when drawn 
out again, becomes of a fine deep blue. 
Indigo grows naturally in several parts of Asia, 
which may truly be called its native country; and 
of the several kinds which are produced in this vast 
quarter of the world, those which grow in Hindostan 
are reckoned the best. 
The manner of working this plant is not the 
same in all parts of Asia, nor do they always manu- 
facture it alike in the same district. Among the 
different ways in which this product is obtained 
we may notice two ; one distinguished by the name 
of inde, the other of indigo. In the manufactory of 
inde, they do not infuse the leaves in water alone, 
but put in all the plant, with the exception of the 
root, as in indigo. 
The Chinese, when they prepare their indigo, 
take the stems and the leaves of the green herb, 
and throw them into a tub filled with a sufficient 
quantity of water. After having left the plant to 
macerate for twenty-four hours, they throw out the 
stem and leaves, and pour into each tub three or 
four measures called gantang of fine lime, passed 
through a sieve, which they stir briskly with sticks 
till they raise a purple foam. After this operation, 
it is left for a day to rest in the tub, then the water 
is drawn off, and the substance deposited dried in 
the sun. To facilitate the desiccation they divide 
the substance into square cakes, which being well 
dried, are in a proper state for transportation. 
