that "the people of India, by coloring crystal, have found a method of imitating various precious stones, beryls in particular." An early play, the Mrichchhakatikā or Little Clay Cart, gives a scene in a court of justice to this effect (Mitra, op. cit., 100; see also A. W. Ryder's translation, Cambridge, 1905):
"Do you know these ornaments?"
"Have I not said? They may be different, though like; I cannot say more; they may be imitations by some skillful artist."
"It is true; provost, examine them; they may be different, though like; the dexterity of the artists is no doubt very great, and they readily fabricate imitations of ornaments they have once seen, in such a manner that the difference shall scarcely be discernible."
56. Copper, tin, and lead.—As at Barygaza, intended chiefly for the coinage. So Pliny (XXXIV, 17): "India has neither brass nor lead, but exchanges precious stones and pearls for them." The Indian coins were of lead, slightly alloyed with either copper or tin. (Sir Walter Elliot, Coins of Southern India, p. 22.)
Lead was used also, mixed with a little tin in thin sheets, as a foil for the manufacture of mirrors. (Mitra, op. cit., p. 101.)
56. Orpiment.—This is the yellow sulphide of arsenic, appearing in the form of smooth shining scales, which have long been an article of export from the Persian Gulf to India.
Pliny (VI, 26) says, "Next to these is the nation of the Ori and then the Hyctanis (Rud Shur?) a river of Carmania, with an excellent harbor at its mouth, and producing gold; at this spot the writers state that for the first time they caught sight of the Great Bear. The star Arcturus too, they tell us, was not to be seen here every night, and never when it was seen, during the whole of it. Up to this spot extended the empire of the Achaemenidae, and in these districts are to be found mines of copper, iron, arsenic, and red lead."
The principal use of orpiment was as a yellow pigment—auri pigmentum—making a durable mineral paint, as did realgar and lapis lazuli.
56. Wheat for the sailors.—Marco Polo also notes (III, xvii), "No wheat grows in this province, but rice only."
56. Cottonara.—Dr. Burnell derives this from Kolatta-nādū, which he identifies with North Malabar, of which Cannanore and Tellicherry are the centers. Dr. Buchanan prefers Kadatta-nādū, South Malabar, on either side of Calicut. In mediaeval times the domain of the Rājās of Kolatnād included both. Bishop Caldwell, in his Dravidian Grammar, derives the name from Malayālam kadatta, transport or conveyance, and nādū, district. Menon (Indian Antiquary, Aug., 1902), suggests kadal, sea, or kādu, mountain; and
