xvi Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Jan. 1845. 



soldier, and older traveller, and is imposing on my countrymen the untravelled Welsh. 

 Please to return the stones. 



Yours faithfully, 

 Kyook Phyoo, 14th July, 1844 D. Williams. 



The following Memorandum accompanied Major Williams's letter : — 

 Direction for polishing Iron and Steel. 



" Take about two drams of Samy stone, put in a mortar, powder it as fine as possible, 

 then put it on a slabstone, or what painters do mix their paint on, then rub it down 

 with sweet oil, (N. B. — The best of oil,) until it be as fine as milk, the finest the best. 

 Then take a new piece of strong cloth or thick flannel, then soak it with the above 

 mixture. Rub your irons with it; afterwards take fine shamois' leather with rotten 

 stone or whitening and chalk, and it will show the highest polish ever known. The 

 same rag will last six months without failing. Never attempt to put fresh stuff on the old 

 rag, for the stuff will remain on the rag as long as it may last if taken care of. Keep 

 it from wet and strong heat. 



" Samy stone is found in several places in the East Indies, but the best we found is at 

 Bombay, and most plentiful ; we paid from 1-3 to 2-6 of English money per pound for 

 it in India. The inhabitants makes idols of it of different figures, and paints it in red. 

 There is none to be got in England, except what is in our troop; you can get some 

 home if you know any person in India, or a sailor that trades to that country, as it may 

 be sent or bought without duty, &c. There is several grooms in England that had 

 some home after they had the receipt from us. For the above receipt I had five 

 pounds, never gave it before under ten rupees; I have sent you two small pieces, and 

 you can try one for experience, the other you may keep to prove what you may get 

 again : my stock is getting very short at present, else I should send you more of it. 

 Received 5 shillings. 

 Newcastle, March 28th, 1844. H. Hall, 4th V. O. L. D." 



As far as could be ascertained, from the small splinters I ventured to detach from the 

 minute specimens sent, there is no doubt that the stone is a variety of Pagodite, which is 

 almost all which can be pronounced of it now. I have carefully kept the remainder for 

 comparison, and indeed have deferred reporting my examination of it, in the hope that some 

 of the many persons to whom I have written would have been able to discover what this 

 Samy stone — evidently Swamy (God) stone — is; buthitherto, I have heard of nothing 

 approaching to it. The question nevertheless is of much interest, for the art of polish- 

 ing metals is often one of high importance ; and the use of an intermediate sub- 

 stance between the coarse polish of the Corundum or emery, brick or porcelain dust 

 and the finishing effect of the rotten stone, as here described, is worth attention. The 

 use of the common steatite in polishing, and as an anti-attrition ingredient has been 

 long known ; but the whole phenomena of polishing substances, and their effects on re- 

 flecting surfaces have yet been so little studied, that it is always proper that due weight 

 be given to any fact which may lead to a useful practice. 



The Secretary stated, that the suggestion of the Curator, respecting Lieut. Sherwill's 

 labours, had been also mentioned at the regular Meeting, and fully approved of; 

 it was resolved, a letter should be addressed to Government as proposed. 



