Science and Art of Calligraphy and Painting

Author(s): S Andhare
Publisher: Indian National Science Academy

Page 45

23 Its fonds are smooth and delicate, measuring approximately 36"X3" at times. Its fibers do not decay easily and its elasticity prevents it from breaking even under pressure. The fonds of this palmyra tree yielded palm leaves for writing. One of the methods of preparing palm leaf folios is to obtain young palm leaves and bury them in sand for curing them. Subesquently, the leaves were trimmed and used for writing with a stylus made of iron. This practice of incising the script on the leaf with an iron stylus tool was prevalent in the South and Eastern India.
The text was first incised on the leaf in parallel lines with a pointed iron stylus known as Keel in Gujarat, and was rubbed with powdered carbon ink. The powder would then be imbeded in the incised letters. Alternatively, the scribes used liquid ink. In Karnataka the ink was manufactured from the oil extract ad form two types of fruits. The oil was heated and mixed with various powdered substances including roasted turmeric and harde. The mixtrue was heated again and used as ink.
Fig 34 Palm leaf Ms and Stylus