VEGETABLE DYES. 
183 
prepared from the inner bark of the root of the 
nono, morinda citrifolia , and though far more 
fugitive than the scarlet of the mati, is an exceed¬ 
ingly bright colour. The yellow dye is prepared 
by infusing the bark of the root in water, in which 
the cloth is allowed to remain till completely satu¬ 
rated, when it is dried in the sun. The mati, or 
scarlet dye, is moistened with water, and laid on 
the dry cloth. Their patterns are fixed with the 
scarlet dye on a yellow ground, and were formerly 
altogether devoid of uniformity or regularity, yet 
still exhibiting considerable taste. They now 
fix a border round the ahufara, and arrange the 
figures in different parts. Nature supplies the 
pattern. They select some of the most delicate 
and beautiful ferns, or the hibiscus flowers : 
when the dye is prepared, the leaf, or flower, is 
laid carefully on the dye; as soon as the surface 
is covered with the colouring matter, the stained 
leaf or flower, with its leaflets or petals correctly 
adjusted, is fixed on the cloth, and pressed gra¬ 
dually and regularly down. When it is removed, 
the impression is often beautiful and clear. 
The scarf or shawl, and the tiputa, are the only 
dresses prepared in this way, and it is difficult to 
conceive of the dazzling and imposing appearance 
of such a dress, loosely folded round the person of 
a handsome chieftain of the South Sea Islands, 
who perfectly understands how to exhibit it to the 
best advantage. This kind of cloth is made better 
by the Tahitians than any other inhabitants of the 
Pacific. It is not, however, equal to the wairiirii 
of the Sandwich Islanders. Much of this cloth, 
beautifully painted, is now employed in their 
houses for bed and window curtains, &c. Several 
kinds of strong cloth are finished with a kind of 
