Ingessana hide tanning

103 x 76 mm | Print gelatin silver

There are records relating to alternative images that we do not have scans for in the database:
1998.344.39.1 - Negative film nitrate , (103 x 76 mm)

Date of Print:

Unknown

Previous PRM Number:

EP.D.39

Previous Other Number:

H 9

Accession Number:

1998.344.39.2

Description:

A man in Arabic dress washing a softened skin in a liquid held in a large gourd, prepared from the bark of the mudus tree, which grows locally and is evidently high in tannin, a basket of which sits by his side. Much of the leather produced was sold to merchants and was traded in Omdurman where it was rated highly.

Photographer:

Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard

Date of Photo:

1926 November - December

Region:

Blue Nile Tabi Hills ?Soda

Group:

Ingessana (Gaam)

PRM Source:

Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard

Acquired:

Donated 1966

Other Owners:

E. E. Evans-Pritchard Collection

Class:

Leatherwork , Vessel , Plant Use , Basketry

Keyword:

Vessel Gourd , Basket

Activity:

Manufacturing

Documentation:

Original catalogue lists in Manuscript Collections. Additional material in related documents files. [CM 27/9/2005]

Primary Documentation:

PRM Accession Records - Accession Book Entry [p. 98] 1966.27 [1 - 24] G[ift] PROFESSOR E. E. EVANS-PRITCHARD; INST. OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY, 51 BANBURY RD. OXFORD - 1966.27.19 - S. SUDAN, DARFUNG. VARIOUS TRIBES. Box of negatives in envelopes, [1 - 242] & 1966.27.20 - Box of prints of these negatives [refers to object 1966.27.19] [1 - 242], in envelopes.

Manual Catalogues [typewritten, entitled "Ingassana"] - 39. Tanning. H.9

Note on print reverse ms pencil - " Tanning . Washing the skin in mudus bark mixture. In basket by side is the beaten up bark. H9"

Other Information:

In A Preliminary Account of the Ingassana Tribe in Fung Province, Sudan Notes and Records X, 1927, page 78, E. E. Evans-Pritchard notes that 'The Ingassana use the bark of the mudus tree, as it is called in Arabic, for tanning. This tree grows in plenty in the Tabi hills. Much of the leather is sold to merchants and probably finds its way to Omdurman, where mudus leather is esteemed higher than any other. It is also used locally for water-skins. Tanning is men's work and is done by skilled persons, though it is open to anyone to acquire the skill. The bark of the mudus tree is dried and crushed up and afterwards made into a paste with water. The skin is soaked in oil of sesame, beaten until soft, and then soaked in the mudus paste.' [Chris Morton 2/2/2004]

Recorder:

Christopher Morton 2/2/2004 [Southern Sudan Project]