Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 8.djvu/165

 CARPENTERS. (446)

ARPENTERS are one of the most ancient classes in India, as they are one of the most useful. In ancient times, when there were no buildings of stone, and all, from the palace to the hovel, were made of wood, carpenters must have been the general artificers. All the most ancient buildings in stone—the temples in Cashmere, the Buddhist types of Sauchi and Amravati, except the central dome and sanctuary—all the temples of Southern India, though constructed of stone—were devised on the principle of wood building, the pillars and cross-beams being joined together by mortice and tenon. Hindoo architects had no faith in arches, even after they were introduced by the Mussulmans; and we find in the beautiful Mussulman architecture of Guzerat, of Delhi, and in other localities, examples of the Hindoo system, executed no doubt by Hindoo artificers. The Hindoo carpenter's tools are very simple: an adze, the helve of which, grasped near the head, lies along the inside of the arm for support and guidance; and with this tool very delicate work is done; a strong chisel for mortices, with a wooden mallet, a small jack plane, and a square for testing work, a drill for making holes for nails or pegs. With these all the principal work is done very cleverly and neatly. The operation of turning is shown in the Plate: a square frame, consisting of two heavy pieces of wood for sides, with cross pieces which pass through the sides, and can be adjusted as to width by wedges. The work to be turned is fastened between two iron points, the frame laid on the ground, and the wood is turned by an assistant sitting in front, who passes a smooth rope twice or thrice round the wood, and pulls steadily first one end, then the other, till the wood acquires a rapid motion. The turner sits behind, applying his chisel held in a rest to the wood whenever the motion is towards him. Of course only the plainest turning can be effected by these simple means; but they are applied to wood, ivory, and metals with much skill. The carpenter at work is making the leg of a chair or table, while the man behind him is fashioning out another leg with his adze.

Carpenters are one of the chief sects among the Sudra population all over