The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-06-10
MAKING GOLD.
FOLLOW tho Indian AIcheinists' Methods
D and, Prestol You Are Rich.

FOLLOW tho Indian AIcheinists' Methods
and, Prsstoi You Are Rich.
For long time III India the appar- ,
ent transmutation of tin, zinc, copper
ana mercury into precious metals has
peen practiced. We have seen there
With our own eyes metal like gold is
SUNG from the crucible of the Indian
alchemists-a metal that could not be
told from real gold by means of the
touchstone We may say, however, that
III old India, as we'll as in young Amer
loa, they have not yet succeeded in Civ
ing to the metal thus obtained the chem
zeal properties of gold. On this point
they are not moro advanced in the one
country than in the other, and the prob
lem seems to us not to be near solution.
Tho 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 ard to describe their methods.
Around these personages many legends
have sprung up. The people assert that
they never come into a city except by
divine inspiration in order to cure ILL
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 tho 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
Ill India, tho list Of substances necessary
for this delicate operation. These are,
according to orr documents:
Sulphur of Nelli-Kai (Phylanthus
lemblica), "a rupees weight q ounces).
White seeds of Abra precatorius, ru.
PEGS weight (21e ounces).
One whole garlic.
Clnnabar, rupees weight @ ounces)
English orpiment, G rupees weight.
Sal ammoniac, 6 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 mOterial to be distilled occu-
pies only 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 tho little balls
described above, and the whole is then
scaled up.
The powder, when vaporized, rises
along the sides of the bottle and con-
dcnses around the hole It is collected
with Il feather. Then zinc is taken. For
each rupees weight of zinc. is allowed
quantity of the powder as large as
two or three rice grains. The zinc and
the powder are wrapped up. together in
bit of paper or linen or leaf. The
whole is put into O 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 q 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.