The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-10
Granite of Ancient India.

Long centuries before the western world
had awakened at the trumpet call or
civiliza tion-when the ancient empires OF
Greece and Rome were yet unknown
when the stones that form the Pyrs mids
We're still imbedded In the granite hills of
Egypt. the deft fingers OF Indian workmen
were hewing with marvellous skill and
deXterity massive blocks OF eastern gram
ite. Here. In the cradle OF the human
race, the arts OF granite cutting and poll
ishing first were mastered, and even yet
human ingenuity has improved but little
the handiwork OF these ancient crafts
men. So wonderful was their skill that
many centuries afterward. when the old
er civilizs tions had passed away, not
only the native tribesmen, but visitors
from foreign lands regarded those gram
ite temples and statues a. the handiwork
OF the gods. In the early Christian era
pa Hian; a Christian. pilgrim. visited In In
royal palace. the different parts OF which
Asoka commissioned the gerii to con-
struct by piling up the stones. The walls.
mo- human ,S+sf44r f44r-AHaILeI- Christian nil
grim OF the same period-Houen Tsang--
the sculptured stones OF the land and
also what can only have been pillar ~
polished granite. He saw, he SAYS. a
stone pillar. bright and shining as A
as ice"
Oldest OF all those ancient buildings are
fortresses and pagodas The earlier pa
godas however were not the stone bnilt
towers ana mansions with thousand pill
lars mentioned I'm the rig Nods y but
underground temples hewn from the solid
eastern mountain. To this period tspd
perhaps most ancient of ain belongs the
famous pagoda in the island ~ Eiephants.
near Bombay. Halt way toward the
square. hewn out of the heart Of the
mountain. Massive pillars. finely carved,
walls for the purpose. Of supportins. the
roof and weight Of the great hill above
1.-THE whole forming n striking picture
Of rugged strength and eeautL. Coey,ai va
IA nous fortresses OF Dowletab Dad and As
seergur two gigantic granite strong
holds, situated SO advantaseouslv that
mean feat OF arms 20 capture them by
force. d.. Kennedy. who has given
lifetime study to these matters. saws the
only tools the Hindoo artisan used IN
those gigantic undertakings were small
chisel and an iron mallst The chisel
tapered TO a nne round point, and the
face Of the mallet mad a deep hollow
lined with lead with such simple tools"
he adds. they formed. fashioned and
scooped the granite rocks which forms
and eNcavated the wonderful caverns OF
Flora. for II seems by no means probable
that the Hndoo stone cutters worked
with any other tools"
Granite agates bloodstones and crystals
are fashioned with such primitive nstru-
ments into cups and other hollow articles
a delicately shaped as those OF the most
plastic porcelain. King Solomon II will
he remembered. received from the East
ruby cup containing tho elixir Of life
So = least runs the legend. In forming
the cavity ~ the cup small holes, = quar-
ter Of AN inch IN depth were bored al
over the surface with diamond tpped
drill The remaining portions around
the holes were then Clipped away and the
process repeated time after time until
The desired form and depth We're obtatnd;
lnfnite TaNof bestowed ~-er--t4At+ttl
characterized all the products of ancient
Indian art With the fall OF the ancient
Hindoo kingdoms the art and craft OF
masonry died gradually away Whether
ID will he again resuscitated one heSi-
tates 20 say, yet none the less. IN ccntu-
rieS vet 10 come. the architects and aru-
sans Of the West Will turn with Wonder
and delight 10 view those enduring mon
uhcnts OF human industry reared long
ages ago by the builders and sculpters
~ the patient East.-Stone Trade Jour-,
N