Iron in Ancient India c6.s8.38

c6.s8.38

It is not necessary here to refer to iron 'bundooks' or matchlocks except in a general manner. The *Ayeen Akbari*, which says that excepting Room (ancient Turkey) no kingdom could compare with the Indian Empire under the Moghuls in the number and variety of its ordnance, describes the details of manufacturing matchlocks from wrought iron which would be of some interest. "Bundooks are now made in such a manner that when filled with powder up to muzzle, there is no fear of their bursting. Formerly they never were of more than four folds of iron, and sometimes only of one, joined together by the two extremities of the breadth, and which were very dangerous. His Majesty [Figure: The Iron Gun at Gulburga. (The Empress, May, 1913, No. 2, page 12.)]