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666 Additional Observations on the Damask Blade. [July, 



arm belongs to this figure, or to another which has been grouped with 

 it. The latter opinion seems more probable, as there is no articulation 

 for a second arm upon the left shoulder, and no symptom of a second 

 arm on the right. The second left hand presents a bunch of grapes or 

 a custard-apple. The leaf accompanying is more like that of the latter 

 fruit. It will be remembered that the custard-apple is to this day 

 called Sceta-phul, (Seeta's fruit,) because she fed upon it whilst wan- 

 dering in the woods. It is a native of the Dukhun. This second 

 hand is beautifully sculptured. The foreshortening is perfect. This 

 circumstance seems to strengthen the analogy between the Raam of 

 India and the Raam of Egypt. Unfortunately the statue is still an 

 object of worship, so that I could not make free with it. There is 

 an ancient site close to Aknoor from which are dug the bricks of the 

 present city. But all my endeavors to procure coins or relics were 

 fruitless, and I doubt whether this image could have been found in 

 its ruins, as the Indo-Greek empire seems to have been bounded east- 

 ward by the Jelum, and it is not probable that the Egyptians spread 

 themselves farther eastward. On either side the mouth of the figure 

 are horizontal lines apparently representing thin tufts of hair, as in 

 some Chinese figures. 



Additional Observations on the Damask Blade of Gooj rat ; by the same. 



A few observations suggest themselves in addition to the account I 

 had lately the pleasure to send you, of the fabric of the Goojratie Da- 

 mask. It appears to me upon second thoughts that the figure of the 

 mass of cast steel may be selected by design, though probably hit upon 

 originally by accident. For if we follow the arrangement of the nee- 

 dles of crystallization from the mass into the blade, we shall perceive 

 that the edge of the latter is a serrated spine of these needles, radiat- 

 ing from the elongated ellipse into which the centre has been drawn. 

 And as the power of swords, knives, razors, &c, to sever soft sub- 

 stances, depends upon the serration of their edge, we have here the 

 finest and most perfect natural saw that can be imagined, justifying the 

 half marvellous records of feats performed with Damascus blades. 



