________________
AUGUST, 1891.)
MISCELLANEA.
295
directed towards the north. From the upper nribhi," the fire that comes to life, rubbed out (uttara) a piece eight inches long, and two inches with energy by men." This friction process was broad is split off. This latter forms the friction- naturally only used for producing fire when no staff pramantha). The lower end is cut to a blunt other method was available. Usually, no doubt, point, and the upper end is made four-cornered fire was carefully preserved from day to day, and to fit the corresponding aquare hollow of the spin- when it went out, was borrowed from a neighbour. dle (chátra). This spindle is made of the hard The use of the cowdung cakes in India of the wood of the Acacia catechu (khadira), twelve present day, which remain aglow for several inches long, with iron ferules at each end. At the hours, need not be described to the reader of the lower end is the square hollow for the friction Indian Antiquary. staff, above is fixed an iron pin (kilaka). It The burning-glass, and the burning-mirror, is round or nearly so, and has running round appear to have been known in very early times it an oblique groove to receive the driving string in India. The Nirukta mentions how dried cow(nétra). The latter has three strands and is dung takes fire when the rays of the sun are made of cow-hair and hemp. It is wound three thrown upon it by means of a mani (i. e., a pre. times, from right to left, round the spindle. In cious stone or glass) or by means of a metal vessel. the lower friction-piece, a space of four inches is In later times the burning-glass is frequently measured off, twelve inches from the head
nised by poets in similes, but neither it nor the and eight from the foot, in which a furrow burning-mirror appears to have been in frequent (tirtha) is cut out; and a smaller cross channel household use. (v.ihint) is cut from this towards the east side to
No mention of flint and steel, or simpler flint form an exit for the fire. Above the machine
against fint, has been noticed by Prof. Roth in goes a cross piece (ovili or audiil) which keeps
his reading the agniprastara, of the Sabdakal. the whole together. It is half as long as the
padruma, is a modern coined word, and the flint lower board, and probably half as broad. It is
appears to have been unknown. Pyrites were also of Acacia wood, and is flat below, and fur.
known, being mentioned in the Nighantu under nished with an iron plate. Above, it is round to
the name of makshika, but apparently not their allow it to be held easily by the hands. A hollow
use as a means for producing fire. At the same in the iron plate receives the iron pin of the top
time it must have been known in the most of the spindle. When all is ready, the holder of
ancient times that sparks issued also from stone, the sacrifice (yajamana) sits by the apparatus
for the Vedas say that fire dwells not only in facing the east, by the west side of the lower
wood, but also in water and stones (Ri. V. 2, 1, 1; friction piece, places the cross piece, in the same
Ath. V. 3, 21, 1:12, 1, 19). direction as the lower piece, on the pin, presses it down as hard as he can, and endeavours to keep
Another old man eloquent,' Dr. Roth's great the whole as steady as possible, while his wife fellow-worker, Prof. O. Bohtlingk, next contri. puts the string on the spindle, and commences to
butes four short pithy articles. He first deals drill. The priest (adhvaryu) subsequently oon
with the question, "Who is the author of the tinues the work begun by the wife. The sparks
Hitopadosa P' Professor Peterson maintains, on produced are received in a dish filled with dried the authority of a concluding verse found in triturated cowdung, and are blown upon and
three old MSS., that that work was composed cherished till the fire can be placed upon the
( a) by Nárayaņa, and blames Lassen and hearth. In the above description, Beveral minor Schlegel for not giving this verse, which is found details have been omitted to save space. Note in the St. Petersburg MS., in their editions. As that both the friction boards, the upper as well a matter of fact the St. Petersburg MS. does not as the lower, are called arani. From the upper is contain the word रचितः but चरितः, 80 the two split off the friction staff, which in the machine scholars are freed from the reproach. Dr. takes the place of the upper arani, which keeps Böhtlingk views the verse with great suspicion ; its name only because it provides the wood for it is added in a very awkward way, being the former. Originally the upper arani cannot introduced with the words anyachchdstu. It is have been a board, and must have been made awkward, in this position, immediately after a of hard wood, which was applied to the lower benediction commencing with tathdpyaparamsoft wood and worked by hand. This must idamastu, to put this verse into the mouth of have been a business requiring a considerable Vishnuvarman, and if it is meant for an addition expenditure of labour and strength, and in fact by Narayana, or some one else, then the anyach. numerous passages in the Vedas refer to fire as chdatu is not required. He prefers, as the the child of energy: e.., sahasd yo mathito jdyate three MSS., which have the verse, all agree closely
