OF TANNING. 373 



stick supports, which elevate it about a foot from 

 the ground. The kautuffa bark, after being well 

 pounded in a mortar, is strewed over the surface, 

 and the hollow is then filled with cold water, and 

 in the course of a few days a strong red infusion is 

 made, with which the whole surface of the skin is 

 frequently washed, and when evaporation has re- 

 duced its contents to a sloppy paste, the sticks are 

 withdrawn, the ends folded in, and with the con- 

 tained mass, the skin then undergoes the usual 

 fatiguing process of treading, until the evidences of 

 the nit being properly prepared are satisfactory. 



The bark of the kantuffa reminded me of that of 

 the red mimosa of Adal, which produced an astrin- 

 gent gum, something like kino, but not, I considered, 

 so powerful a drug. This tree, however, was 

 pointed out to me as being that with the bark of 

 which the Dankalli tan their affaleetahs, or small 

 water-skins, carried by travellers ; for the larger ones 

 are prepared with the hair left on, by simply drying 

 in the hot sun, after having been distended with 

 air, to expose them fully to its influence. It is 

 very probable that the celebrated Morocco leather, 

 derives its bright red colour from the bark em- 

 ployed in tanning being obtained either from the 

 kantuffa or the Adal tree, for both these trees give 

 a very red colour to the skins that are prepared 

 with their bark. From this I am inclined to 

 believe, that among other articles of commerce that 

 might be advantageously drawn from the Barbar 



