stem iiulie ciiliivated sort erect, round, jointed below, very ram
soinewlini scabroiis, IVoin six to twelve inches high.
Bnmcka ;iKillnry, the under opposite, decussated, spreading 1
zontal, and nearly ;i8 long as die
•s ii-om the axill.
above altei n
pan-.
Ill ihc ,vild s , the
iches, M'iih their ilower-beaiing extremities erect.
Leaves opposite, tern or quatcrn, sessile, linear, pointed, scabrous,
spreading, from f to t inch long, by i broad ; in the axills of
the principal leaves are generally fascicles of smaller leaves.
Stilndes connecting, ciliated.
Floxvcn terminal, small, white, very numerous, the whole formnig
a large umbell, composed of small three-cleft un>bellets.
minute, awled.
The pans of fructification agree exactly with those of the genus.
c latter part
This is a small biennial, rarely triennial pla
light dry sandy ground near the sea. Flowers d
of the wet season ; seed ripe in January,
It is much cultivated on the coast of Coromandel, and grows best
in the purest and lightest sand, there its roots descend to a great
depth. Cattle are penned upon the ground for soine time before it
is sown, to manure it, or some other manure employed, generally
the lightest; it is then cleared of weeds, and its surface made level,
if nct°so before. The seeds are mixed with much sand, and sown as
soon as the rains begin in June, or July (that is in the Circars); the
sand is mixed M'ith the seed to enable the sower to sow it suIHciently
thin ; it requires to be often watered If showers are not frequent,
till the plants are about two or three inches high. The first
watering Is peculiar; some fresh cow-dung is mixed with the water,
the chicfobjectof whicli is to give the sand at the surface some degree
of adhesion, which prevents tlie strong winds that prevail at
this season from blowing away the seeds; after, it requires little or
no care, few weeds grow in such a soil as fits this cultine, ofcourse
a ver)' little labour keeps it elcan; if the season is remarkably wet,
tlie quality of the roots are much injured, and the drier the season
the richer they are in colour and quality. In February, which
is seven or eigiit months from the time the seeds were sown, the
roots are reckoned to be in a j)roper state for taking up; to effect
which a trench is made along the side of the field, fully as deep,
or rathei- deeper than the length of tlie longest roots, which may
be reckoned two feet; a two-pi-onged fork is then employed to
t falls , tlie r.
; o f a ,v colot oilin
pregnates colti water or spirit
it gives a brownish porter col
acids,
wit), tl
dyin
ot (I may say tw,
ss troublesome w
satisfactory succi
. watery infusions and spi-
,ged into a bright and deep red b)' alkarendered
paler, or nearly destroyed, by
5US experiments to enable me to dye
expedi.
• three hundred), i
tha what the n; s follo^
it is therefore
s place (howev
acquainted with the art of dying
•y for me to say at present, is to
,g, or printing red with this root.
ary for
I doubt
light effect
sed by
the stems and branches cut off; the entire roots dried in the sun,
tied up in small bundles of a few ounces, and kept in dry airy
places, which is all the preparations it receives from the cultivators:
it will remain good three, four, or even five years, and the dyers
and ehints painters, who arc the peopli best acquainted with this
I'oot, say its colouring powers improve by keeping for that length
of time; a fortunate circumslance for its exportation to Europe.
When the wild sort can be had in any quantity, it is esteemed
one-third, or one-fourth stronger, and, which is of more consequence,
yields a better colour: and when these roots can be had of
two years growth, they are reckoned still better, but the farmer
does not find it answers his purpose to let it be longer in the ground
A reccipt for dying red with these roots, as practised in the Masulipatam
district, suppose one square yard of pretty fine cotton
cloth, which has been previously bleached.
First. Take of the coarsely powdered root one or one and a
half ounce, boil it gently for a few minutes in three pints of soft
water; in this dip the cloth repeatedly for a few minutes, wring
and wash it out in cold water, and dry it in strong sunshine upon
sand or gravel.
This first operation is to take out any remains of the quick-lime.
See. employed by the bleachers in whitening the cloth.
Second day. Take half an ounce of the outer covering of caducay
nuts (nuts of Terminalia citrina), in powder, mix it in a pint
of cold water,* let it stand a little, then strain it through a bit of
thin rag, with this mix a third part of fresh buffalo's milk ¡1 believe
cow's milk is as good); in this wash or rub the cloth thoroughly,
wring it gently, and dry it in the sun.
Third day. The cloth is washed out in cold water; yesterday's
operation repeated; i" when finished, the cloth feels very harsh ; to
soften it, it is folded up and very well beetled.
Fourth day. A quarter of an ounce of alum and as much tuimerick
in po^vder arc infused in .a pint of cold water for a few hours;
the beetled cloth is now spread out on grass, and exceedingly well
rubbed with the above mixture; when dry (if to be coloured on
botli sides) it is turned, and equally well rubbed with the same
mixture on the other side; then dried and put by. :
Fifth day. This day the cloth is only well washed in cold water,
and dried in the sun.
Sixth day. The fourtii day's operation of rublDing both sides, &c.
is repeated.
Seventh day. Wash it well in cold water, and while moist, wet
it in a cold infusion of a little powdered caducay; dry it in the sun
or shade.
The Malal
Eighth da
put them on
cloth into it,
cloth frequei
oftl o|jera
Take six pints of water and a pound of chay root,
the fire, and when scalding hot put the unwashed
0 be kept in a scalding heat, stirring and turning the
tly for three or lour hours; the waste of water may be
now and then adding to it; the cloth is suflered to
liquor till cold, then wring it out half dry, and again
the same decoction, which is now made to boil gently
The woody part of the root is white and tasteless, it is the bark
only that is possessed of the colouring principle; when fresh it is
orange-col on red, tinges the spittle yellow, and leaves a light degree
of acrimony on the point of the tongue for some Iiours alter chewing;
to appearance it loses its yellow colour in drying, but still
• Over tlic souilicrn psrts of llic coast l)ic powtlcicJ caducay is cxcccdingly well boiled
in waler, and ll.c slT^cicd dccoctbn mixed witli only a fourtli part of milk.
-f- To die souiliw.«ddiiso|)cradon is pcrfoi-med in llicsjine nwimcr, butwitli onlyoiieeighd.
of milk CO die water ai.d eadueay. Beeili.ig the sjme.
X Soulli among the M.daljars, tliis operation dilTers imieh from the above; il is clone as
rollo^v5. Take of sa¡ian wood (Ca;silpiiiia sappjii) in shavings one ounce, water a pint
and a half, mix and let them s.iiml for two days, dien boil lliem tUl a lhl.-.i is goite; to
lilis decoclioii ^vhilc hot add thrccqaarlei s of an oiinec of powdered alum, with lliis ihe
clolU is culibcd on bolli sides, S:e. is is done above i.illi tuiineiick, ix. on d.e fou.lli, Ofd.,
retains the abovemcntioned properties on being chewed. It im- »udsii
1 day.
OLDENLANDIA UMIiEl.l.AT,
for five or six hours, stirring, &c. as above; the fire is then to be
witluhawn, and the whole left to cool till next day. The cloth is
now of a dii-ty deep bi ick-dust colour.
The Malabars perform only the first part of this day's work.
Ninth day. The cloth is washed in cold water, well wetted in
a cold infusion of caducay and water, dried and put b)', as on the
seventh day.
Tenth day. Wash the cloth in cold water, and boil it gently
for two hours in a decoction of a quarter of a potnid of chay root
in .six pints of water, suffer it to cool in the decoction as before;
then wring it out, dry it, and put it by.
This part of the operation, as well as that of the ninth day, the
Malabars omit.
Eleventh day. Tiie clotli is to be worked about for a short lime
in as much water, well mixed with fresh cow-dung, as will cover
it, then wrung out, and dried in the sun.
Twelfth day. The cloth is washed, spread oui to the sun, an<l
sprinkled with xvater as it dries, for a da)-.
Thirteenth day. The operation is finished by washing with
soap, which improves the colour; and the oftener it is washed, the
brighter the colour becomes.
I have in the above pointed out whenever the Telinga operators
difrei- from the Malabar. I believe the Telingas are esteemed
the best artists; however, of this I cannot well determine, as durability,
as well as the immediate appearance of the colour, must be
taken into consideration.
It may be proper to observe, that in dying with these roots the
heat is always gentle, it is probable that these contain some other
principle, which a strong heat might extract, and debase the intended
colour.
They aic also used by the natives to dye brown, purple, and
orange, with their various-shades.
Cotton cloth, previously prepared with a solution of alum, receives
from a decoction of this root and tartar, a pretty good yellowcolour;
but it is changed to a pale red on being washed with soap:
till«; points out strongly the powers of an alkali on the colouring
To dye ¡¡urple with chay roots, as practised by the natives in
the Masulipatam district.
Fjrst. The cloth (suppose four yards) is to be washed in a hot
decoction of the root, dried, and next day wetted in an infusion
of caducay in milk and watei", as piactised in dying red. On
Third day,
md one pint o
of clear
first beat rthe dew, iftl
arly
3 gruel)
grass, and rub both sides of it with the abov
above with the turmerick infusion in dying red; thit
operation is only done once on each side here.
Fourth day. The cloth is well washed in cold water
gently for one hour in a decoction of chay roots (say t
in eight gallons of water), let it l eraain in the decocti
then wring it, and dry it.
Fifth day. It is boiled as yesterday in a fresh tleco
roots, which is only half so strong (viz. one pound ai
eight gallons of water); it is immediately removed frc
as directed
part of the
of the
half to
le dye,
• Cassim is the Telinga n.m,e of a solution of iron in a veget.ible acid, and is prepared
a! rolloivs. Take Palmira toddy (juice of Borassus BabclUroi-mis) one gallon, in.o winch
pill somebrokenpicccs of the vitrified mailer of a blacbinilh's foige, and some bits of old
rusty iron, Ici ilie whole sland exposed to llic sun for len days; ihen jioiir olT ihe liquor
after being suffered to cool, into a mixture of fresh cow-dung and
water, wlicre it remains for the night.
Si.Kth day. It is exposed to the sun, and watered as it dries, kc.
as for finishing the red dye.
To dye a deep but clear brown with chay root, as practised by
the same people; say four yards of cotton cloth.
The cloth is first to be dyed red, as above described, till we
come to the bucking in cow-dung, which is to be omitted; and in
its stead, the cloth is to be well wetted in the mixture of caducay
in milk ami water, and dried in the sun.
Second day. Very early, the cloth is spread out, and both sides
rubbed with the cas.sim. &c. as has been already mentioned Ibr
purple, but with this difl"erence, that here each side mu.st be done
Third day. When it is well washed in cold water, and boiled
gently for one hour in a decoction of the chay root, let it remain
in the liquor till cold, then wring it, and half dry it; when it must
be returned into the same decoction, and boiled for another hour,
the operation is finished by bucking in cow-dung, &c. as I'or red
and purple.
To dye orange with the same root, as practised b)- the same
people; say four yards of cotton cloth.
First. Wash in a scalding decoction of the root, as for red.
Sccond day. Take aldccay (galls of Terminalia citrina) and the
;s in powder, and infuf
I- fou .s of
through a bit of thin rag, in which dip the cloth repeatedly till well
wetted, wring and beat it a little, then dry it; and repeat the wetting
in Ihe above mixture, beating and drying. Next day, dissolve
two ounces of alum in a quart of water, with this wash the cloth,
and put it out to dry. Next day it is to be wetted in a weak lixiviinn
of alkaline earth (earth of cretaceous soda) and quick-lime,
wrung out and dried. Next day, wash it out in cold water, and boil
it once only, and for one hour, in a decoction of chay; let it remain
in the liquor till cold ; dry it, and put it by till next day, then
finish the operation by washing with soap.
To paint the red figures on chints with these roots, as practisetl
by the chints ]5ainters in the Masulipatam district.
It is necessary to observe, that for every sort of chints, whether
painted or printed, the cloth must first be bleached, then well
washed out in a scalding decoction of cliay root, and wetted in a
cold mixture of milk, water, and powdered caducay, as practised
to prepare the cloth for the red dye before mentioned ; (this last ¡)art
of the pi-ocess is by the Malabar.s done with a strong decoction of
the aldecay, as for the red dye.) This mixture they say prevents
the colours that are to be applied from running, as pounce does ink
on bad paper; and it is also found that milk is absolutely a necessary
pai t of the mixture, for an infusion or decoction of the nuts
will not answer without the milk. The abovementioned work
occupies two days generally.
Third day. The cloji is now well beetled, and the figures traced,
or marked out by applying pieces of paper over the prepared cloth,
that has all the oudines pricked with a pin, a small bag of finely powdered
charcoal is rubbed backwards and forwards over the paper,
a sufficient quantity of the powder will pass the holes in the paper
to mark distinctly the outlines of the figures; when this part of the
work is finished, these lines marked out by the charcoal that are to
be red, yellow, or orange, with their various shades, are to be
done over witli a cold watery infusion of sappan wood (Ca:salpinia