316 Method employed at JLstracan for making 
shagreen-makers are accustomed also to roll up each skin 
separately, and to press or squeeze it with their hands 
against some hard substance, in order to promote the ab- 
sorption of the tallow. The superfluous particles are re- 
moved by means of a blunt wooden scraper ( urak); and 
when this process is finished, and the skins have lain 
some time, a sufficient quantity of vitriol of iron is dissolv- 
ed in water, with which the shagreen is moistened on 
both sides, and by this operation it acquires a beautiful 
black dye. It is then dressed at the edges, and in other 
places where there are any blemishes. 
To obtain white shagreen, the skins must first be 
moistened, on the shagreen side, with a strong solution 
of alum. When the skin has imbibed this liquor, it is 
daubed over on both sides with a paste made of flour, 
which is suffered to dry. The paste is then washed off 
with alum water, and the skin is placed in the sun till it 
is completely dry. As soon as it is dry, it is gently be- 
smeared^vith pure melted sheep’s tallow, which it is suf- 
fered to imbibe in the sun ; and, to promote the effect, it 
is pressed and worked with the hands. The skins are 
then fastened in succession to the before- mentioned 
bench, where w arm water is poured over them, and the 
superfluous fat is scraped off with a blunt wooden instru- 
ment. In the last operation the warm water is of great 
service. In this manner shagreen perfectly white is ob- 
tained, and nothing remains but to pair the edges and 
dress it. 
But this white shagreen is not intended so much for re- 
maining in that state as for receiving a dark red dye, be 
cause, by the above previous process, the colour becomes 
much more perfect. The skins destined for a red colour 
must not be immersed first in ley of bitter salt earth, 
{ schom ,) and then in pickle, but, after they have been 
