Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c32.s1.57

c32.s1.57

12. Dr. Jolly knows the Hindu theory that alchemy was born in India before the Christian era.¹ In any case it is not yet proved where the so-called science first made its appearence. In connexion with alchemy in later Indian literature we have the mention of Constantinople (Rūma); if we connect the AS with later alchemy we have to come down to Muhammadan times. Jolly therefore has to postulate a probable "Greco-Syriac" origin and to place that hypothetical origin in the 1st cen. A.C. But one hypothesis cannot prove another. We must have a proven fact that alchemy is not original to India and that it was borrowed by India from a 'Greco-Syriac' original and from nowhere else. The very fact that we have alchemy before 300 A.C. in India shows that we have to give up the theory of Arabian origin and admit that there was an earlier stratum, either Indian or foreign. We cannot go further than that because nothing can be proved at this stage beyond that. *Rūma* and *Barbara* as found in later literature must refer to another and a subsequent importation.