284 MEMOIRS^/ the 
that often happens to thofe that work the lacquered wiare, and 
Ibmetimes to thofe that only pafs by their ihops and look on them 
at work, proceeds from the lac and not the varnifh, which lac 
is the lap or juice of a tree that runs fiowly from it when cut, 
and is carched by pots faftened to the tree for that purpole j it is 
of the colour and confiilence of cream, the top that is expoled to 
the air, immediately turns black, and the way they make it all 
black and fit for ufc, is thus- they put a quantity into a bowl 
snd ftir it contmually with a piece of Imooth iron for 24. or 30 
hours, which will both thicken and make it black ; to this they 
put a quantity of very fine powder of any fort of burnt boughs, 
mix it very well together, and then with a brudi lay it fmooth on 
any thing they dcfign t'o kcquer ^ they let it dry very well in the 
fun, then it will be harder than the board it is laid upon ; after 
it is throughly dried, they rub it v.ith a fmooth ilone and water 
till it is as fmooth as glafs, then they lay on the varniili made of 
turpentine and oil, boiled to a proper confidence for black lac 5 
when they intend to have red or any other coloured lac, they 
mix the colour in fine powder with the varniili and take care to 
lay the varnifli on as fmooth as pofiibly they can, for therein lies 
the art of lacquering weij 3 when they have a mind to paint in 
gold or filver, ^c, they draw with a fine pencil dipped in the faid 
varniili what flowers, birds or other figures they pleafe, and let it 
lie till it begins to be dry, then they lay on the gold or filver- 
leaf or pin d uii , c^/;. 
It is well known that there is amongfi: the 'Bramines a language 
called the Sanfcreet^ writ in a different character from what is 
now in ufe, in this language arc written the ^orane or facred 
hiftory 5 the SPjafiram being to them what the Bible is to Ghrif- 
tians, as alio the four Beads-, whereof one is loft, containing their 
divinity, law, phyfic, ^r. and ibme other books 5 this language is 
not underftood by all BramineSy but only by the ftudious and 
learned amongft them : One of the moft eminent in this place be- 
Jng afked, how long it was fince the laid language was loft, an- 
fwered that it was fpoken in the age of the Gods, or when they 
lived upon earth, which by their calculation continued many 
fhoufand years and ended ^q many years paft, as we reckon from the 
ilood, or thereabouts 5 but they have little knowledge in chrono- 
logy; It is evident, that feveral of the languages now fpoken in 
India^ are derived(|^ra the Sanfcreet^ ?.nd one of the Uraminez 
writ a book to ihew, that the prefent Illndofian^ or language ipo- 
ken by the Moors in particular, is derived from thence 3 the Bra- 
mines obfcrve our Sunday every week as a holy day , or day of reft j 
befides this, they have their monthly holydays, for the 8th day 
?.f:!^r the changt:* 0-' the niocn ii alw^^ys a d^y ot devotion, as alio 
^ . " the 
