30 ANIMAL PROTEINS 



Myrabolans is one of the most important of the 

 pyrogallol tanning materials. It is a name given to the 

 dried fruit of Terminalia chebida and other species of Indian 

 trees. The nuts resemble an elongated walnut. They are 

 dried and exported from many parts of India to all parts 

 of the world, but largely to this country. The varieties of 

 commerce are named according to origin and quality : 

 thus we have " Ji's," i.e. Jubbelpore, No. i quality, " Ri's " 

 (Rajpore, No. i), " Bi's " (Bhimley, No. i), etc. The 

 little difference in tannin strength (about 32 per cent.) in 

 these varieties is usually compensated by corresponding 

 differences in price. The quality of myrabolans cannot be 

 safely judged by appearance. Much bloom is deposited by 

 myrabolans liquors, especially by " J's." Myrabolans are 

 amongst the most sugary of tanning materials, containing 

 up to 5 1 per cent. It is therefore one of the best materials 

 for giving a plump leather. Broadly speaking, those varieties 

 which yield most sugar yield least bloom, and vice 

 versa. Myrabolans tannin has a small affinity for hide 

 substance and penetrates the hide very slowly. It gives 

 a " mellow " tannage, but a bright, good colour, which 

 characteristics are imparted to the leather when the material 

 is blended with other materials containing dark or astringent 

 tannins. When used alone it yields a rather spongy 

 leather, and it is not considered a good weight-giving 

 material, though its acid-producing powers are very helpful 

 to other more astringent tannins. 



Valonia has been the other staple tanning material of 

 the heavy leather trade. It is the acorn cup of oaks 

 common in Asia Minor and Greece, chiefly the Turkish 

 oak (Quercus agilops). The fruit is gathered when ripe 

 and dried in layers of about one foot deep until the acorn 

 drops out, vSmyrna is the great export centre. Greek 

 valoma is obtained Irom many parts of the Archipelago 

 and mainland. It is gathered in a more immature con- 

 dition and includes tne acorn. It is considered slightly 

 inferior in strength and colour to the Smyrna valonia. 

 The exterior of the acorn cup is covered with rather scaly 



