A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c32.s16.2

v2.c32.s16.2

It has already been seen that among the 64 branches of arts and sciences recognised in the ancient ‘Kāmasūtra’ of Vātsyāyana occur the following:—(a) the testing [of the genuineness or otherwise] of gold and the gems; (b) knowledge of the colouring of gems, as also of mines and quarries.[†] Varāhamihira (d. 587 A. D.) in his “Vrihat Samhitā” also conveys much useful information on this subject, but as he in his turn refers to experts who preceded him,* it may safely be concluded that long before this time it received adequate attention.