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ancients ; Mica, in plates, is given as Talc in India ; it is 
mentioned in the oldest Hindoo works by the name abruk, 
and is found in abundance in Central India. 
Of combustible minerals, the Diamond, procured from 
the mines of Panna and of Golconda, may be considered 
as almost peculiar to India. Sulphur, found in Cutch, in 
the Peninsula, and in Nepal, is imported also from the East- 
India islands, as well as from those of the Persian Gulf. 
Plumbago is found both in Ceylon and the Himalayas. 
Amber, (which the Arabs call kahroba, grass attractor) 
is dug up in Cutch, and in the Hukong valley on the S.E. 
of Assam. Ambergrise is found on the eastern seas and 
the coast of Madagascar. The Sanscrit Ambara is no doubt 
the origin of both terms, though the first was early known 
in Europe by other names. Asphaltum is found near the 
Dead Sea : it is called by the Arabs kufr-al-yayoodee, 
the translation of bitumen judaicum. Jet is procured 
both in Ceylon and China. Of mineral oils, naphtha is 
found in large quantities, both in Persia and near Rangoon, 
in Burma. Petroleum is said to be found in Silhet. 
Of metallic minerals, the abundance is great in different 
parts of India, and must always have afforded the Hindoos 
the means of procuring the several metals in a pure state. 
Gold has been long washed out of sand, both in the Penin- 
sula of India and along the foot of the Himalaya. Silver 
occurs in the Malayan Peninsula, but the great portion of 
both in India must have consisted of the tribute paid by all 
nations, as well for its natural riches as manufacturing skill. 
The ores of iron, copper, and lead, are abundant, both 
in Southern and Central India ; also in the Himalayan 
mountains. Indian Wootz has long been celebrated, and 
Mr. Wilkinson has ingeniously shewn that the figuring of 
the genuine Damascus blades depends upon the peculiar 
crystallization of the Wools of Western India with which 
