248 GKOGNOSY OF INDIA. 



and otherwise associated with it, is extensively used in 

 India for architectural purposes, and for statuarj'. 



The Hindoos poUsh all kinds of stones by means of 

 pounded corundum mixed with melted lac. The mixture 

 being allowed to cool, is shaped into oblong pieces three or 

 four inches long. The stone is sprinkled with water, and 

 at the same time rubbed wuth these oblong masses ; and 

 the polish is increased by the use of masses with suc- 

 cessively liner grains. 



Talc-slate and Potstonc. — These minerals frequently 

 occur together associated with various transition rocks. 

 Potstone is found along with talc-slate and chlorite-slate 

 in the south-east part of the Darwar district, and is used 

 by the natives in the manufacture of various utensils. It 

 is so soft, that pencils are formed of it for writing upon 

 books made of cloth blackened and stifiened with gum. 

 Both the books and the neatness of the writing are very in- 

 ferior to similar ones of the people of Ava. All the fine 

 plaster, so much admired by strangers, with which the walls 

 of the houses are covered in India, is composed of a mix- 

 ture of fine lime and soap-stone rubbed down with water. 

 When the plaster is nearly dry, it is rubbed over with a dry 

 piece of soap-stone, which gives it a lustre very much re- 

 sembling that of well-polished marble. 



Limestone. — Some hills on the north and north-east of 

 Guzerat are said to be chiefly composed of marble exhibiting 

 many colours and qualities. The coarse granular white, 

 and white with black veins, are the most frequent ; but 

 amono- the ruined tombs and murjids, in the neighbourhood 

 of Ahmedabad, may be found many small granular varieties 

 of different colours, as white, yellow with red veins, and 

 green clouded with yellow and even black. Of these de- 

 posites of marble no account has been puWished. A variety 

 of Ihnestone met with near Bagulkote, in Darwar, answers 

 well as a lithographic stone ; for which purpose it has been 

 used at Bombay. LucuUite marble is mentioned b\ Dan- 

 gerfield among the productions of Malwah, and Tod says 

 there are marble quarries in Rajast'han. The kunkur, a 

 calcareous deposite, is used for cement and as a manure. 



Latcrde or Ferruginous Clay-stone. — This mineral may 

 be described as a clay-stone, more or less impregnated with 

 iron, with a perforated and cellular structure. It frequently 



