The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s29.t1.3

c5.s29.t1.3

∗ In the Pharmacographia by Fluckiger and Hanbury it is stated; "Candy as sugar in large crystals is called, is derived from the Arabic *kand* or *kandat* a name of the same signification. An old Sanskrit name of Central Bengal is *Gura* whence is derived the word *Gula* meaning raw sugar, a term for sugar universally employed in the Malayan Archipelago, where on the other hand, they have their own names for the sugar-cane, although not for sugar. This fact again speaks, for Ritter's opinion that the preparation of sugar in a crystalline state is due to the inhabitants of Bengal." The Arabic *kand* is apparently derived from the Sanskrit *khanda*, that is treacle candied into white sand-like grains. Again the Bengali term *Gura* is derived from the Sanskrit *Guda* which is mentioned by such ancient writers as Charaka and Susruta. The manufacture of sugar therefore was evidently understood in Upper India before it was known in Bengal, at any rate there is nothing to shew that sugar was first prepared in Bengal.