History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c26.s3.t6.3

v1.c26.s3.t6.3

*Production* : In Vedic times, the Rbhu brothers were stated to have built artificial hives of reeds and straw, secured honey sections from a natural hive, and fixed them in the prepared hive (Dave, 1954, 1955). When a swarm had settled in, a year was allowed to elapse before four combs only were removed and the rest left in. Knowledge of bee-keeping was kept secret, and the Vedic saint Dadhyang was beheaded when he taught the Asvins his skill. In later times hives were kept in logs or pots in a horizontal position, or on four-legged stools, or in a wall. In Kashmir the latter procedure is still in use, with detachable ends. When ready, both ends are removed, the bees are gently smoked away and a few combs removed; when the ends are replaced, the swarm soon returns.