BY THE ANCIENT HINDUS. 



227 



imported into India from the East. It is well known and 

 received its name from its smell, being called gandha or 

 gandhaka, smell, or in this case as it has not a good smell, 

 rather from its stench. Its quality differs with its color, 

 according as it is white, red, yellow, or bluish. Though 

 sulphur is a very important part of gunpowder, gunpowder 

 is in some parts of India even prepared without it. Sulphur 

 was always in great demand in India, and in medicine it is 

 often made use of. 111 



3. Charcoal is the third component part of gunpowder. 

 Its constitution varies necessarily with the plants which in 

 the different countries are used in its manufacture. In Prussia 

 the coal of the alder, limetree, poplar, elder, willow, hemp, and 

 hazel is used for powder. The charcoal of willow trees is 

 especially esteemed on account of its excellent qualities. In 

 the Sukraniti the arka (Calatropis gigantea), the snuhi, 

 muhi or snuh [Euphorbia neriifolia), and the Rasona 

 [Allium sativum) are given as the plants whose charcoal 

 is best fitted for gunpowder. 



The arka, gigantic swallow wort, is a common bush grow- 

 ing in great quantities all over the country. It has a very 

 good fibre, and is regarded by the natives as possessing 

 most powerful and useful qualities. If the arka is used with 

 discretion when iron is being forged, it contributes greatly 

 to the excellence of the Indian steel. It is applied against 

 epilepsy, paralysis, dropsy, &c. Its milky juice is smeared 

 on wounds. It is a common sight in India to see suffering 

 people applying it. The root is also used against syphilis. 

 Its charcoal is very light and much used for pyrotechnical 



111 Sveto raktasca pitasca nilasceti caturvidhah 



gandhako vamato jneyo bhinnabhinnagunasrayah ; Rdjanighantu, 

 It is cleaned by being boiled with castor oil or goat's milk. 



Gandhakam palamatram ca lohapatrantare ksipet 

 erandatailam sampurya pacet guddhirbhavisyati. 

 Atbava chagadugdhena pacitam suddhim apnuyat. 

 See Sadvaidyajlvana. 



