Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/250

228&#93; 228] MOR MOR pound to each skin, and piling them ly impregnated with this liqnjOT, up, till they are rendered sufficient- they are slightly rubbed over with ly supple. The last process which the skins undergo previously to being dyed, is immersion in a liquor prepared by boiling 2-4 ounces of dried figs, for each skin, in a copper (we believe, treacle ^vould answer the same purpose), in wdiich they reniain till they are about to be suspended in the air for drying : lastly, they are dipped in a solution of alum, that disposes them for the immediate reception of the dye. The chief colours communicated to Morocco-leather, are red and yellow, for the preparation of ■which, the Turks have long been celebrated. The red colour is prepared by a sponge dipped in paure w^ater, and suspended, without being folded, on a wooden frame, for about three quarters of an hour, to draiu. They are now carried to a river, or itinning water, where they are re- peatedly rinsed, then pressed with weights, in order to extract the moisture, and hung up in a warm room to dry. — ^The last process which red Morocco-leather under- goes, is that of polishing : tliis is effefted by means of various wooden instruments, that contri- bute at the same time to remove such of the particles (f gall and sumach as may adhere to the skins. The yellow colour is prepared ia a manner nearly similar to that mixing together various articles, in just described ; the common Avig the following proportions, which are requked for a paicel of 30 skins ; Drams. Cochineal - - 130 Hound suchet (crocus indicus) 45 Gutta gamba - - 15 Giun- arable - - 10 ■V'hite alum, pulverized - 10 Bark of the pomegranate-tree 10 Citron juice - - _ 2 Common water - 120lbs. The alum is gradually added to the other articles, which are thrown into a copper, where they should be boiled for about two hours, till one-tenth part of the water be con non or yellow berries (Gra'me dAvigncnJ being substituted for cochineal, and employed in simi- lar proportions. The only variation between the two processes of dyeing red and yellow, is, that the fornner is tinged with the colouring matter, before it is worked, or polished with the wooden instruments ; whereas this operation is performed on the lat- ter, previously to its being dyed.— But these two are not the only co- lours dyed by the Turks, who like- wise manut"a6iure black, green, and blue leather ; which last three,, however, are not only destitute of sumed. In this mixture the skins lustre, but are extremely perish- are repeatedly immersed: and, when able. The Turks, indeed, are as sufficiently imbued witi^. ti.e colour, inferior to Europeans in preparing tkey are dried, and again steeped the more common species, as they in a vessel, containing three pounds excel them in manufaiturinor and of hot u-ater (for every two skins) together with one pound of su- mach, and a similar quantity of eall-nuts, pulverized and sifted. — iij> soon as the skins are couiplete- dyeing the red and yellow moroc- cos. MORTAR, a preparation of lime and sand, mixed with water : it. serves as a cement., and ia employ- ed