226 



ON THE WEAPONS USED 



together with all the other artificial modes of producing salt- 

 petre, became a perquisite of the sovereign, and this saltpetre 

 regale grew in time into as obnoxious a burden to the people 

 as the hunting regale. The saltpetre regale is first men- 

 tioned, as having been exercised in 1419 by Giinther, Arch- 

 bishop of Magdeburg. 109 



The little knowledge possessed by the ancients of 

 chemical science, their utter ignorance of chemical analysis, 

 accounts for their not improving, or rather for their not being 

 able to improve the materials at their disposal and discovering 

 the natural qualities of the different alkalis in their possession. 



Throughout India saltpetre is found, and the Hindus are 

 well acquainted with all its properties ; it is even commonly 

 prescribed as a medicine. India was famous for the expor- 

 tation of saltpetre, and is still so. The Dutch, when in 

 India, traded especially in this article. 



In Bengal it is gathered in large masses wherever it efflores- 

 ces on the soil, more particularly after the rainy season. In 

 the Sukraniti saltpetre is called suvarcilavana, well shining 

 salt. The Dhanvantarinighantu describes saltpetre as 

 a tonic, as a sonchal salt ; it is also called tilakam (black) , 

 Icrmalavanam and kdlalavanam. It is light, shiny, very hot 

 in digestion and acid. It is good for indigestion, acute 

 stomach ache, and constipation. It is a common medical 

 prescription. 110 



2. Sulphur, the second ingredient of gunpowder, is also 

 found in India, especially in Scinde ; it is, and was, largely 



109 See J. Beckmann, History of Discoveries, under the head Saltpetre, 

 Gunpowder Aquafortis. 



110 See Dhanvantarinighantu, in the Description of Salts. 



Suvarcalavanaproktam rucyakam hrdyagandhakam 

 tilakam krsnalavanam tat kalalavanam smrtam. 

 Laghu sauvarcalain pake vlryosnam visadam katu 

 gulmasulavibandhaghnam hrdyam surabhilocanam. 

 Amarakosa, IX, 43. Sauvarcale' ksarucake tilakam tatra mecake, and 110 

 eauvarcalam syat rucakam. 



