STONE.
Hajar, . . . . ARAB. Lapis, LAT.
Steen, . . DAN., DUT. Piedra, PoRT Pierre, FR Kamen, . . . . Ru s.
Stein, GER Piedra, SP.
Petros, GR Sten Sw.
Sang, rather, . HIND. Rai, 'Keller, . . TANI.
Pietra, IT Tash, . . . . T vim Stones of every kind, suitable for architecture, sculpture, or ornament, are obtainable in different parts of India, as the red sandstone in the vicinity of Dehli ; the slates, limestones, and rnaibles of the Nerbadda,, and of the valleys of the Godavery and Kistna; basalt and basaltic greenstones are used in the Hindu temples; and the marble of Burma is largely sculptured for the figures of Gautama; the Ilitbba Hills, near Bhooj, yield stone which is entployed as a substitute for marble ; soapstone is found in many- parts of British India, Burma, and China, and is carved into numerous figuros ; the sandstones of the Kymore ran,ge are used as flagstones, and for ornamental parposes ; the millstones of Chynepore, Sasseram, Tilo %Oho°, and Akbarrpur, are fatuous ; the Sone causeway and the Koylwan railway bridge, are built of the dense sandstone of Sasserarn; little quantities are found in the higher portions of the range, towards Rohtas ; but the best stone, while easily workable, is almost as hard as granite, and may be had of any colour, viz. white, crystalline, blue,
grey, and all shades to a dark red.
Stone implements have been largely found ia India. Chipped flints, agates, jaspers, and chalce donies have been found by Lieut. Sweney near Jubbulpur. Others of flint were-found by Mr. Blanford near Nagpur and near Lingoosagoor. Flint (chert), agate, and chalcedony knives re sembling those of Mexico, arrow-heads, etc., were found by Surgeon Primrose. . Stones have been used for recording edicts, laws,..and moral codes.
Moses wrote on stone tablets the Ten Command ments. In the Confucian temple at Pekin are ten stones shaped like drums, on each of which are engraved stanzas of poetry. These stone drums are said to have been in existence since the days of Yaou and Shun, who flourished, the former ti c. 2357, and the latter n.c. 2255. The king Asoka, who was a follower of Buddha, had his edicts engraved on rocks, where they are still to be seem—Gray, p. 93. See Sculpture.