Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c23.20

v1.c23.20

Herodotus mentioned (I, 192) the Babylon used to obtain precious stones and dogs from India. Indika of Kteisas contains references to Indian items such as shellac, gold from spring congealed in earthen pitchers (alluvial washings melted and cast into ingots?), silver from the land of pygmies (Rajasthan or Burma?), iron, sardine, stone, onyx from the mountains (near Ujjain?), pantarba mineral displaying colours (opal?), oil floating over lake in the country of pygmies (petroleum in Burma?) etc. (Ball, 1880: 224-28)