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A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v1.c16.s2: Saltpetre

A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v1.c16.s2

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English

Saltpetre

v1.c16.s2.1

It will thus be seen that there is much in common in the history of the word used for nitrate of potash both in the Sanskrit and in the Latin languages, as in theformer “sauvarchala” and “yavakshāra” are indiscriminately applied to it.

v1.c16.s2.2

It is very remarkable that in the later Sanskrit chemico-medical literature the very word sauvarchala, which stands for saltpetre in the Sukranīti and in the Rasārnava, ceases altogether to be applied to it, but is used as a synonym of sārjikā (natron), while yavakshāra has been pressed into service, it being clean forgotten that from the time of Charaka and Susruta this word has been used in its radical sense, *viz.*, the *ashes of barley* (impure carbonate of potash, from *yava*, barley and *kshāra*, ashes). Both Wilson and Monier Williams in their Sanskrit-English Dictionaries, following no doubt the authority of modern writers, erroneously render *yavakhāra* as saltpetre as also does Colebrooke in his "Amarakosha". Roth and Böhtlingk in their Wörterbuch, however, correctly translate it as "Aetzkali, ous der Asche von Gerstenstroh."¹

v1.c16.s2.3

¹ In the chemistry of Bubacar, "le sel de cendres" is the equivalent of *yavakshāra*—"La Chimie au moyen âge," I. 308.

v1.c16.s2.4

It is strange indeed that a substance which occurs extensively in Bengal and in upper India as an efflorescence on the soil should have been allowed to go without a definite name for several centuries.² Dutt says "nitre was unknown to the ancient Hindus. There is no recognised name for it in Sanskrit."³ * * * Some recent Sanskrit formulas for the preparation of mineral acids containing nitre mention this salt under the name of “soraka”. This word, however, is not met with in any Sanskrit dictionary and is evidently sanskritized from the vernacular sorā, a term of foreign origin. The manufacture of nitre was therefore most probably introduced into India after the adoption of gunpowder as an implement of warfare.” ¹ Mat. Med. of the Hindus, pp. 89-90, ed. 1900.

v1.c16.s2.5

² We purposely use the words "allowed to go without a definite name," for the term *sauvarchala* was all along vaguely used now for saltpetre, now for natron.

v1.c16.s2.6

³ He is in error on this point, as he had not consulted, or probably had no acquaintance with, the old literature on the subject. Prof. Macdonell very properly points out "the dangers of the *argumentum ex silentio* [as] furnished by the fact that salt, the most necessary of minerals, is never once mentioned in the Rig-

v1.c16.s2.7

veda. And yet the northern Panjáb is the very part of India where it most abounds. It occurs in the salt range between the Indus and the Jhelum in such quantities that the Greek companions of Alexander according to Strabo, asserted the supply to be sufficient for the wants of the whole of India.” It would be equally hazardous to rush to the conclusion that nitre was “unknown” to the Hindus.

v1.c16.s2.8

(1) Dutt is probably correct in so far as he states his views with regard to “the manufacture of nitre” as an ingredient of gunpowder. For it is well known saltpetre has been in use from time immemorial as the basis of rocket and other fireworks both in China and India. In the Dasakumáracharita by Dandí, mention is made of yogavartiká (magic wick) and yagachùrna (magic powder), of which saltpetre was probably the basis. The earliest account of the manufacture of saltpetre on a commercial scale that we have come across occurs in a rare work entitled: “The Travels of John Albert de Mandelso from Persia into the East Indies. London, 1669.” The book is in the valuable collection of my friend, Mr. Prithvísa Chandra Ráya. Says our author:—

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