Journal of Indian Industries and Labour May 1922

Such was the method by which practically the whole of the decoration on the pylons and pillars was achieved and the solid and sculptured appearance of what was in reality only moulded paper was one of the features of the scheme. [...] In the case of green and wet salted hides the soaking usually consists in washing the hides in two or three changes of water in the former case to remove the adhering dung and blood and in the latter also the salt which was used for curing. [...] But both the total duration of liming and the treatment in the various limes are to be varied according to the class of leather under manufacture and the qualities desired in the final product. [...] The object of this is not only to remove as the name implies D diming the lime from the bides but with certain classes of hides and skins also to dissolve out the cementing sustance of the hide fibres to loosen the lime soap formed during liming and to bring down the swelling of the hides and skins. [...] This is called ' drenching ' the object of which is to cleanse the hides and the gas formed in the.drench during fermentation also opens up the pores of the hides and skins and thus helps to make the final leather soft.