[147] ‘Dictionary of Economic Products,’ I.B., p. 944; Hummel and Cavallo, Proc. Chem. Soc. 1894, p. ii.
[148] Agricult. Ledger, 1901, No. 11, Gov. Printing Office, Calcutta.
Pterocarpus or Drepanocarpus senegalensis is the source of African kino, which contains up to 75 per cent. of tannin.
Cæsalpinia coriaria, Divi-divi. A tree of 20-30 feet, native in Central America, introduced successfully in India, but principally imported from Maracaibo, Paraiba and Rio Hache. The dried pods contain 40-45 per cent. of a pyrogallol-tannin, mainly ellagitannic acid, and would be a most valuable tanning material, but for a liability to fermentation and sudden development of a deep red colouring matter. The causes are not well understood, but apparently the risk can be materially lessened by use of antiseptics. If used in strong liquors it gives a heavy and firm leather, but is principally employed as a partial substitute for gambier on dressing leather. Used in rapid drum-tannage for light leathers, an excellent colour may be obtained. It is said to give an especially firm and glossy flesh. Leather tanned with it, even when of outwardly good colour, has often a blueish-violet shade within, perhaps due to the development of a colouring matter allied to that of logwood. The seeds do not contain tannin, which lies almost free in the husk of the pod. The pods are about 3-4 cm. long, dark outside, and curl up in drying to an S-shape.
C. digyna, Tari or teri pods. Occurs in Prome, Toungoo, Bassin, Mynang and other parts of India and Burmah, where it is used as a drug. The pod-case is said to yield over 50 per cent. of tanning matter. A sample from Burmah, kindly sent by the Imperial Institute, examined by the Author in 1900, contained 24 per cent. of tannin, but after removing the seeds the remaining pod-cases yielded 44 per cent. of tannin on analysis. C. digyna promises to become a valuable tanning material if it proves free from the tendency to ferment which is so troublesome in divi-divi. It has been introduced into England under the name of “white tan,” which yields a leather quite as white as sumach; but the supply seems at present uncertain.
C. cacolaco, Cascalote, Mexico. Pods rich in tannin (up to 55 per cent., Eitner). Pods larger and fleshier than divi, seeds smaller, tannin similar.
The pods of several other Cæsalpinias are used in tanning, sometimes under the name of “Algarobilla,” which is simply a diminutive of Algaroba, the carob, or locust-bean, derived from Arabic al Kharroba, and applied to several small pods. (See [Balsamocarpon] and [Prosopis].)
C. (or Balsamocarpon) brevifolia, Chili, ordinary Algarobilla. [Fig. 58]. One of the strongest tanning materials known, containing an average of 45 per cent. of a tannin very like that of divi, but less prone to discoloration. The tannin lies loose in a very open skeleton of fibre, and is easily soluble in cold water; the seeds contain no tannin. If not allowed to ferment it produces a very bright-coloured leather.
Algarobilla has been attributed to Prosopis pallida, but this appears incorrect. Several species of P. are known to yield tanning pods; those of P. Stephaniana of the desert of Kaschan, in Persia, are dschigh dschighe, perhaps identical with dchift or jaft. (See [p. 263].) Bark of P. spicigera used in Punjab.
C. (or Hæmatoxylon) campechianum, Logwood, Central America. In addition to colouring matter, and a glucoside which it yields on oxidation, this wood contains about 3 per cent. tannin. Its principal use is in dyeing blacks with iron or chrome mordants. (See [p. 413].)