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Show PAPERMAKING IN INDO-CHIN 5 the fibers so the individual sheets may be lifted from th pile without tearing. Hereagain the peculiaradion of th cay mois apparent, for without the use of this substanc the sheets of paper would adhere together tenaciously In India the paper s dried by brushing the half-mois sheets against smooth outside phsurwa]]s where the su quickly evaporates all moisture; in the damp climate o Indo-China, however, the paper must be dried indoor and the separate sheets are applied to the plastered side ofupright ovens thatare heated by burningstrawand dis carded outer bark; a Tonkin paper drying oven is show in Photograph 14. In Tonkin itis the practice to dip th brush that is used to «paste" the paper to the walls of th ovensin a weak solution of cay 720 water. Pratically all o the paper made in China and Indo-China for native us is bibulous in character as this property is necessary fo brush calligraphy. The Occidental method of sizing th surface of the paper with vegetable or animal gelatine t makeitimpervious to fluid ink for quill or pen writing i naturally not pra&iced in the Orient, at least in so far a the handmade papers are concerned The uses for the handmade papers of Indo-China ar numerous, but the introdudion of the paper-machin has forced many of the native cottage mills into idleness the former handmade paperworkers donotseck employment in the machine mills. The greatest quantity of th native handmade paperis consumed in religious ritesan ceremonies,including theartificial silverand gold coate Digital mage © 2005 Marriott Library University of Utah, All rights reserved |