frOTE ON SAIN OR SAJ. 5( 



4. Minor Products. 



The bark is commonly used for tanning skins and preserving nets 

 and an astringent gum is also obtained which sells for 4 annas per seer 

 in the Central Provinces and is used for incense and as a cosmetic. 

 The ashes of the burnt wood are used by dhobies in Oudh and the bark 

 is sometimes used to poison fish in streams. Juice of the bark is used 

 as an astringent in making palm sugar. In Mysore and South Kanara 

 the natives burn the bark and prepare lime from it in an elaborate 

 manner for the use of Jains and Brahmins (Indian Forester, August 

 1909) and it is used in the same manner by some wild tribes in Southern 

 India. In extracts of the bark prepared in the forest by rough methods 

 over 70 per cent, of tannin have been found, and by an analysis of bark 

 made in Germany the following results were obtained : 



I II 



Percentage of tannin agents . . 52"5 23'4 



Non-tanning soluble substances . . . . 27*1 33'4 



Insoluble . . . . . . . . 6"8 31'6 



Water . . . . . . . . 13'6 11'6 



100-0 100-0 



The extracts were reported to be too dark in colour and to have no 

 chance of finding a market until they were decolorised. The preparation 

 of such extracts in a rough and ready way will probably not lead to the 

 development of any trade in Europe, as up-to-date machinery is required. 



Method of tanning with Saj lark. In this case the hide is usually 

 treated with kas or liquor five times as follows : 



The first Jcas consists of 3 or 4 seers of powdered bark mixed with 20 

 seers of water, the second of 5 seers of bark, the third of 7 seers, the 

 quantity of water remaining the same throughout. The hide remains 

 in the first Jcas for 3 days, in the second 5 days, in the third 6 days, in 

 the fourth 7 days and in the fifth 8 days, it being taken out and rubbed 

 3 times daily as previously noted. It is then taken out of the Jcas, 

 washed in clean water and dried, after which it is well rubbed by hand. 

 The leather thus prepared is of a dark, brownish-red colour, of good 

 quality and does not crack. [Tanning Materials ^lsed in the Damoli 

 District, Central Provinces^ R. S. Hole. Indian forester, July 1899.] 



