Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c29.s1.9

c29.s1.9

The niyanda fibre is dyed red, yellow, and black as follows: the red colour is obtained by boiling the fibre with patangi (Caesalpinia sappan) wood, korakaha (Memecylon umbellatum) leaves and (?) gingelly oil or seeds; the yellow from a decoction of veni-vel (Coscinium fenestratum); the black with the help of gall nuts, aralu and bulu (Terminalia chebula and T. beleria). The dye fades considerably in a year or two. The Kinnarayō make also whips, fly-whisks, brooms and other objects of niyanda fibre. It is a material the use of which is confined to the Kinnarayō and Roḍiyō.