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may be : it is necessary to premise, that we cannot always 
draw the same inferences from their being used in other 
latitudes, as we may do with substances produced by the 
organic kingdom, because their distribution is uninfluenced 
by climate. It is well known that under the equator, as 
in polar regions, we may have rocks identical in composition, 
as in their mineral and metallic treasures. But still some 
inferences may be deduced even from them, and it is 
incumbent, in contending for the original investigation 
of the properties of such substances, to shew, at least, that 
the Hindoos had the means within themselves, or by 
communication with their immediate neighbours, of 
becoming acquainted with such substances, independent 
of the civilisation, or even existence, of distant nations. 
Owing to the peculiarity of the soil in many places, and 
the dryness of the climate in some parts of the year, many 
of the salts known as mineral substances in other parts of 
the world, are found in India effloresced in considerable 
quantities on the surface, or may be washed out of the soil 
with comparatively little labour or expense. Most have been 
already mentioned, as saltpetre and nitrate of lime, car- 
bonate of soda, sulphate of soda, and also of magnesia; 
so also common salt on the banks of the Jumna, and 
on the shores of the Samur lake. Though sal-ammoniac and 
alum are manufactured, and the latter even imported from 
China, native sulphate of alumine is found in considerable 
quantities in Nepal, as also in Behar ; and sal-ammoniac 
in Persia, near Basman, where it is called Icoh-nuoshadur, 
as well as in Chinese Tartary and Khoten (J.A.S. iv.p.659.) 
Carbonate of magnesia has been found in considerable quan- 
tities in the Peninsula, though it has probably never been 
used medicinally. Carbonate of lime is common every where, 
either in the form of the calcareous concretion called kunkur, 
or as limestone, both in the mountains of the Peninsula 
