4 NOTE ON DHAUKA Oil BAKU. 



The methods of tanning principally employed in Damoh, Central Pro- 

 vinces, are as follows : 



Method of tanning with ghaunt (Zizyphus xylopyra] and dhaura 

 leaves. The first liquor or kas is prepared from 5 to 6 seers of ghaunt, 

 which has been dried and powdered, mixed with 20 seers of clean cold 

 water in a nand (wide-mouthed jar) . This is left standing for about 

 one hour, when the colour of the ghaunt diffuses into the water. The 

 hide remains in this liquor for 3 days, it being taken out twice to thrice 

 every day and rubbed with the hand for about one hour. At the end of 

 the third day the hide is taken out of the nandj rubbed, wrung out, and 

 spread to dry for about 3 hours. 



The second kas or liquor is prepared from 7^ to 8 seers of ghaunt 

 mixed with 20 seers of clean water, in which the hide remains for four 

 days, it being taken out, rubbed and worked three times daily. After 

 4 days it is taken out, wrung out and dried as before and is then put 

 into the third has. This consists of 6 to 7 seers of dhaura leaves mixed 

 with 20 seers of water and the hide remains in this for 2 days, being 

 rubbed daily as before and on the third day it is wrung out and dried. 

 Some Ghamdrs mix dhaura leaves with the ghaunt in the second kas, the 

 proportions being 3 seers of dhaura leaves or kaspatti, 3 seers of ghaunt 

 and 20 seers of clean water. In this case a third kas is not always 

 necessary. A piece is cut from the edge of the hide to see if the colour 

 has passed right through the skin, and if it is found that the hide is 

 whitish in the interior, it is considered to be insufficiently tanned and a 

 third kas is accordingly given, it being a repetition of the second. 



Other Chamdrs again mix no ghaunt in the second kas which consists 

 of 5 to 6 seers of dhaura leaves or kaspatti, and 20 seers of water ; and 

 in this case no third kas is given. 



In all cases, however, after treatment with the kas (or liquor) as 

 described, the hide is sewn up like a bag with the bark of kulu (Sterculia 

 nrens) root of chheola (Bute a f rondos a) or leaves of khajuri (Phcenix 

 sylvestris and P. acaulis], leaving an aperture of about a span's width at 

 one end. It is then hung up on a pole, the opening being uppermost, 

 and is filled half with dhaura leaves and half with water. The quantity 

 of leaves used depends on the size of the skin and kind of leaves used. 

 About 4 or 5 seers are necessarv for a goat's skin and from 16 to 17 

 seers for half a hide of a buffalo or cow. Also if the leaves are young, 

 more is used than is the case if the leaves are old. A nand is placed 



