Page:The Industrial Arts of India.djvu/127

 padmaka [?], taka [Tectona grand is, teak], and sinsapa, [Dal- bergia sps*, or Bombay blackwood]. Tun [Cedrela To on a], and phanas [Arto carpus integiifolia], both now much used in Indian furniture, it will be observed are not named in this list* The Silpa Sastra, on mechanics and architecture, and some of the Puranas, give detailed directions for felling these trees at parti- cular seasons, when their circulation is inactive j and for seasoning the wood afterwards, so as to prevent unequal contractions and cracks in drying* Trees which have been struck down by lightning, or borne down by inundations, storms, or elephants ; which have fallen towards the south quarter [Yama's] or which grow on burial, or burning, or other holy ground, or at the confluence of large rivers, or by the public road side ; or which are withered at the top, or are entangled with heavy creepers ; or which have become the habi- tation of birds, or bees, &c., &a, may not be used* Some trees, such as the gambhar, asana , and sandalwood are most auspicious when used singly; others when used jointly, as teak with sal, and haridra with ha dam ha* Sinsapa (Le. black wood) and mango - wood should never be used singly, as in the mongrel blackwood furniture of Bombay, Ahmedabad, Surat, and Madras*

Sandalwood is the most auspicious of w'oods for furniture, especially when mounted with gold and jewels ; but the most prized of all materials, particularly for bedsteads, Is ivory. Among the Prince of Wales 1 Indian presents is an ivory cot from Travancore, which is a remarkable example of the skill of the ivory turners of that native state* A four-post bedstead of graven parcel-gilt silver, with red and yellow hangings of needle- worked embroidery, is one of the many gifts of the Maharaja of Cashmere* The four-post bed was unknown in ancient India* The bedsteads represented in the sculptures resemble those of the ancient Egyptians, and the modern Indian char-pai, or frame of netted rope supported by “ four- feet. 51 For men of conse- quence and wealth the rope netting Is replaced by broad bands