324 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



stated that the crucibles used to crack if any fragments of the 

 matrix were inserted into them with the ore. 



An account of these mines was published in 1872, 1 which is 

 merely of value here as testifying to the great extent of the exca- 

 vations, and to the former wealth and importance of the place, 

 which is afforded by ruins of forts, temples, &c. As for the ores, the 

 information about them is not only scanty, but probably incorrect : 

 it is that " veins of almost pure lead ramify through the primitive 

 rock, whilst beautifully- coloured ores of the mineral sparkle over- 

 head. Silver is obtained in small quantities, whilst gold has been 

 found, it is said, on several occasions." It is possible that the so- 

 called almost pure lead was argentiferous galena ; but the gold is 

 probably mythical. 



So far as I know, these mines have not yet been described by 

 the Geological Survey of India ; but a description by Mr. Hacket 

 of the geology of the States of Rajpootana, which adjoin Udepur, 

 and in which the Arvali rocks are strongly represented, was 

 published some years ago. 2 



There are reasons for supposing that some of the mines in 

 southern India, especially those in the Karnul district at Grazal- 

 pully, or Baswapur, may have produced zinc, 3 and it is possible that 

 metal from these local sources may have in early times supplied 

 the workers at Beder with their material. Other reported occur- 

 rences of zinc ores in India are, so far as is known, of trifling 

 importance. 



There can be no doubt that zinc, as a constituent of various 

 alloys, has been largely used in India since the earliest times re- 

 corded by history; thus in the 6th century Sopater mentions brass as 

 being obtainable at Oalliana, a port in Bombay ; and as it is certain 

 that a large amount of these alloys reached India by means of the 

 trade with China, I shall presently refer to what is known of that 

 part of the subject. 



In Materia Medica, too, especially in the treatment of cutaneous 

 diseases, evidence is available of the employment of preparations of 

 zinc since very early times in India. 



1 Indian Antiquary, vol. i. p. 63. 



2 Vide Records of the Geological Survey of India, 1881, p. 279. 



3 See Mallet, Records, Geol. Surv. India, 1881, p. 305, and Economic Geology of 

 India, pp. 284 and 312. 



