248 Foreign Notices in Mineralogy, &c. 
ancient fortress of Dowlatabad, as when first cut. Are not 
traces of tbe pointed chissel to be seen upon the granite an- 
tiquities of Egypt ? ul 
Having by these two instruments only, brought the stone 
to a smooth surface, it next undergoes the dressing with 
water, in the manner usual with masons. It now only re- 
mains to apply the black shining polish, which is ¢one as 
follows: 
A block of granite of considerable size, is usually fashioned 
into the shape of the end of a large pestle. ‘The lower face 
of this is hollowed out into a cavity, and this is filled with a 
mass composed of pounded corundum stone, mixed with 
inelted bees-wax. This block is moved by means of two 
sticks, or pieces of bamboo, placed one on each side of its 
neck, and bound together by cords, twisted and tightened 
by sticks. 'The weightof the whole is as much as two work- 
men can easily manage. ‘They seat themselves upon, or 
close to the stone they are to polish, and by moving the 
block backwards and forwards between them, the polish is 
given by the friction of the mass of wax and corundum. 
Granite finished in this way is the most common material 
of which the tomb-stones of princes and great. men in India 
are constructed. Asa beautiful glossy black, it is scarcely, 
if at all inferior. to the finest black marble ; and referring 
both to ancient Indian monuments,* and to the observations 
*In the end of the year 1794, I had an opportunity of visiting the ancient 
city of Warankul, and of seeing a granite gateway, standing within the 
bounds of the palace; the fine black polish of which appeared to have lost 
nothing of its original lustre. It was almost the only remains of the royal 
residence, and we were told had been originally one of four similar gates, 
which led into a court into the interior of the palace. ‘The other three had 
been removed for the sake of the materials. This beautiful gateway de- 
serves also to be mentioned for the very durable manner in which it was 
constructed. The stones were fitted to each other most accurately, so that 
the joinings were as close as those of a modern marble chimney piece; and 
as no mortar or cement of any kind, had been employed, it seemed perfect- 
ly secure, both against the attacks of vegetation and the influences of the 
weather. But for these circumstances, it would not have escaped being at- 
tacked by the seeds of the banyan tree, and would probably have been en- 
tirely subverted long before the time of my seeing it. On the contrary, it 
seemed quite secure from the attacks of this irresistible enemy of Indian 
architecture, and was in every respect so perfectly fresh, that, unless by the 
application of external force, it seemed to be capable of lasting forever. 
According to Colonel Wilkes, the city of Warankul was founded A. D. 
1067, and captured by the Delhi Patansin 1323, when the dynasty was sub- 
verted. The gateway in question could therefore scarcely have been less 
than 500 years old, and might probably have been considerably older. 
