The tanneries comprise sets of open-air vats where leather is tanned by soaking in cattle urine and pigeon droppings. The smell is such that no one had the slightest doubt that these are the true ingredients. Some years ago we had a line of “made in Morocco” Clarks men’s boots, with each foot enclosed in a plastic bag. Opening the bags revealed the reason- that same horrendous smell!!
The skins are dyed using chemical dyes and washed through afterwards in more vats by men in waders. We can imagine in past times, before waders were supplied, an industrial condition called “tannery washers pickled leg syndrome”.
Many different skins are processed. The photo is of a heap of camel skins. You could buy a whole camel skin rug, hump and all, if you didn’t mind repeatedly tripping over the hump. Gives a whole new dimension to the meaning of the word “humping”! Col settled for a camel leather belt instead, a snip at 50 dirhams(£4).
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