JuNE 6, 1912] NATURE 
Asiatic Society in 1837 and 1839. - Mr. Heath ex- | One of the most notable ancient specimens of iron 
pressed the opinion that the great works in stone in | is the famous Pillar of Delhi, which is not the less 
Egypt were undoubtedly carried out by means of iron | interesting in view of the fact that the city of Delhi 
and steel tools, and that there was no evidence to ! itself, now the capital of our Indian Empire, owed 
Edge of section Edge of section 
~ Piece of slag 
Outside edges 
out of focus; ink 
line apron shows 
outside edge 
\ : d Point 
é 0 
Fig. 2.—Chisel, from point. Longitudinal section. Magnified £0 diameters. 
its name to this pillar. It is a 
solid shaft of wrought iron welded 
together, the total length being 
23 ft. 8 in., the total ght about 
six tons—a very creditable piece of 
work for a metallurgist of at least 
1600 years ago. There are several 
important inscriptions on the pillar, 
which, notwithstanding the long ex- 
posure to wind and rain, are still 
quite clearly cut, showing that very 
little alteration has taken place in 
them since they were added on to 
the pillar. There is also a still longer 
iron pillar at Dhar, or Dhara, 
having a total length of no less than 
42 ft. : 
The paper contains particulars of 
chemical and mechanical tests carried 
out on the specimens. The accom. 
panying illustrations, Figs. 1 and 2, 
represent photomicrographs of the 
point of the ancient chisel. These 
appear to carry evidence that the 
chisel has been quenched, for the 
structure would appear to be in parts 
martensitic. The paper records, prob- 
ably for the first time, evidence of the 
art of cementation having been 
known 1500 to 2000 years ago, as 
shown by this specimen. If this is 
show that any of the nations of antiquity besides the ; the case, probably such knowledge. could~ be traced 
Ilindoos were acquainted with the art. of making | back still further. , 
steel. He also stated that the claim of: India to a Figs. 3 and 4 represent the ancient chisel and 
discovery which had exercis 
>d more influence upon nail, showing 
the positions. from which the 
the arts conducing to civilisation and the manufac- | various’ test-piecés ‘used -in the ‘research- were 
turing industry than any other within- the whole | taken. 
Shock Test 
MICRO (Teens) . ee 
ANNEALED Mune MICRO (Trent) RNneaul 4 niet yes 
Scicmose’’ TEST S¥. GRavity SCLEROSC™ TesT S¢LEROSc’™ » 
| 
RO — 
Craviny 
AMALYSIS : 
MIGRO (Leaeit’) 
MACRO ; 
4 
Pic. 3.—Ancient chisel from Sigiriya (5th century a.p.). 
> 
pat roy EST SP GRAVITY 
Fic. 4.—Ancient nail, 13} in. in length, from Sigiriya (sth century a.p.). 
range of human invention was altogether unques- It is probable that the evidences set forth in this 
tioned. Sir Robert entirely agreed with Mr. Heath’s | paper offer “a satisfactory explanation as to how the 
views, and was led to the conclusion that the methods | tools used in the preparation of the great works in 
of making steel practised in Ceylon probably reached | stone, such as those seen in Egypt, were carried out 
that island from India at a very early date. | in’ past ages. 
NO. 2223, vor. 89] 
