The most skilful connoisseurs distinguish forty-three varieties of Bengal indigo. The most important are the following:—

1. Superfine blue, light or floating.—Color bright blue; light, friable, and spongy; adherent to the tongue, soft to the touch, showing coppery reflections when rubbed by the nail; paste uniform and pure.

2. Fine blue.—Like the preceding, but the color a little less vivid.

3. Violet blue.—A little less light and friable. Has a violet blue.

4. Superfine violet.

5. Superfine purple.

6. Fine violet.

7. Good violet.

8. Red violet.

9. Ordinary violet.