Smyrna times., 1897-10-20
MAKING GOLD.
Follow the Indian Alchemists' Methods
and, PrestOi You Are Rioh.

Follow the Indian AIchemists' Methods
and, Prestoi You Are Rich.
For long time in India the appar-
ent transmutation Of tin, zinc. conner
and mercury into precious metals has
ocen rractlced We have seen there
with our own eyes metal like gold L.
suing from the crucible Of the Indian
alchemlsts-a metal that could not be
told from real gold by means of the
touchstone. We may say, however, that
III old India, as well as in young Amer
lea, they have not yet succeeded In civ
ing to the metal thus obtained the chem
ioal properties Of gold On this point
they are not more advanced in the ono
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 clements
Nevertheless, it may be interesting tn
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
to reJoln the cittars-divine naturalists
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 is the method employ
ed by these Indian alchemists to make
their gold. We give literally, conform
ing to the weights and measures in use
III India, the list Of substances necessary
for this delicate operation. These are,
according to our documents:
Sulphur Of Nelli-Kai (Phvlantbus
Iemblica), "a rupees weight q ouncesl
White seeds Of Abra precatorius, 0 ru-
pees weight (21a ounces).
One whole garlic
Clnnabar, rupees weight q ouncesl.
English orpiment, 6 rupees weight
Sal ammOniac, 6 rupees weight
These are powdered separately, and
then a 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 ocou-
pies only One-third or one-fourth Of the
vessel. On the lower vessel another sat
IL 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 a bottle whose end is pierced, and
1t 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. 1t is collected
with 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 leaf. The
whole Is put into a crucible, which is
then sealed with paste composed of
one part of COW dung, one Of charcoal
and one Of potter's earth. This is
placed on fire of wood charcoal and
heated white hot, after which it is al.
lowed to cool. Open the crucible-you
are rich man.-Paris Cosmos.