Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-06-10
MAKING GOLD.
Follow the Indian Alchemists' Methods
and, PrestOi You Are Rich.

Follow the Indian Alchemists' Methods
and, Prestoi You Are Rich.
For long time in India the appar-
emit transmutation Of tin, zinc, copper
and mercury into precious metals has
been practiced. We have seen there
with our own eyes metal like gold is
suing from the crucible Of the Indian
alchemists-a metal that could not be
told from real gold by means of the
touchstone. We may saJy, however, that
in old India, as well Az In young Amer
lea, they have not yet succeeded in aiv-
-. :. vie metal thus obtained the chem
ical properties of gold. On this point
they are not more advanced in the one
country than in the other, and the prob.
lem seems to us not to be near solution.
The metal obtained can, in fact, be de-
composed into its constituent elements.
Nevertheless, it may be interesting to
present to public notice the Indian al
chemists and to describe their methods.
Around these personages many legends
have sprung up. The people assert that
they never come into city except by
divine inspiration in order to cure i'll
ness and to enrich certain persons.
There is belief among the Hindoos,
very widespread, but purely fabulous.
that they disappear at certain hours
Of the early ages of India, who, accord
ing to Hindoo tradition, meet with
their divinity, Hari Ishari, ON the sum-
mits of the Himalayas, to learn the Sc
crets Of nature.
The following ia the method employ
cd by these Indian alchemists to make
their gold. We give literally, conform
ing to the weights and measures in use
in India, the list of substances necessary
for this delicate operation. These are,
according to our documents:
Sulphur Of Nelli-Kai (Phylanthus
lemblica), "a rupees weight q ounces).
White seeds Of Abra precatorius, 8 ru-
PEGS weight an ounces).
One whole garlic.
Cinnabar, rupees weight @ ounces).
English orpiment, 6 rupees weight.
Sal ammoniac, @ rupees weight.
These are powdered separately, and
then paste is made of the whole, with
three quarts Of paddy" made of the
milky juice of Asclepias gigantea. The
whole is ground up with this milk.
Then little hard balls are made Of the
mixture, and finally two sattis are taken
Of fine, hard earthenware, of such size
that the material to be distilled occu-
pies only One-third or one fourth of the
vessel On the lower vessel another sat.
ii is soldered with potter's earth. after
an opening has been made in the end Of
this second vase. Over this hole is fit
ted bottle whose end is pierced, and
it Is carefully sealed to the vase. Into
the lower vase are put the little balls
described above, and the whole is then
sealed up.
The powder, when vaporized, rises
along the sides Of the bottle and con-
denses around the hole. It is collected
with a feather. Then zinc Is taken. For
each rupees weight Of zinc is allowed
a quantity of the powder as large as
two or three rice grains. The zinc and
the powder are wrapped up together in
a bit Of paper or linen or o leaf. The
whole is put into . crucible. which is
then sealed with paste composed of
one part Of COW dung, ono of charcoal
and one Of potter's earth. This is
placed on q fire Of wood charcoal and
heated white hot, after which it is al.
lowed to cool. Open the oruoible-you
are q rich man.-Paris Cosmos.