History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c36.s2.5

v1.c36.s2.5

Al-Bīrūnī (Sachau, 1910, 1, p. 171), in his book, has given an account of its preparation, which is as follows: “In central and northern India, people use the bark of the *tuz* tree, one kind of which is used as a cover for bows. It is called *bhūrja*. They take a piece, one yard long, and as broad as the outstretched fingers of the hand, or somewhat less, and prepare it in various ways. They oil and polish it, so as to make it hard and smooth and then they write on it.”