History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c20.s2.t2.3

v1.c20.s2.t2.3

Jain texts contain preparation of different inks for writing on paper and on palm leaves. The former is made by mixing a coffee coloured infusion of roasted rice with lampblack and then adding sugar and sometimes juice of a plant called kesurte. For the other type also juice of kesurte was used with a dicoction of wheat flour. Since such inks are completely free from mineral substance, strong acids do not injure the substance of the paper and hence the writing never fades and it retains the gloss also.