Page:The Industrial Arts of India.djvu/43

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domestic pots, jewelry caskets, and inkstands; and the second of brass, svveetmeat boxes, spice boxes [pandan^ rings, lamps, idols, and chains. They make their own brass in the pro- portion of four parts of copper to three of zinc. A good deal of iron work is also done at Ahmedabad. There is a large manu- facture of idols in all the metals at Nassik, and Poona. Good brass utensils are also made at Kelshi and at Bagmandli in the Ratnagiri collectorate. Bells for bullocks are a speciality of Sirsangi in the extreme eastern limits of Parasgad in the Belgaum collectorate. The most active industry in* the town of Bombay is the manufacture of brass and copper pots and the other utensils in universal use among the natives of India. The Copper Bazaar opposite the M outbade vi Tank [the Mirror of the Goddess of Bombay] is the busiest and noisiest, and one of the most delight- ful streets in all the native town. Mr, Terry states [Maclean's Quids to Bomhay that there are 1,069 coppersmiths, and 1,536 blacksmiths In Bombay,

In the Madras Presidency brass and copper vessels, and also of iron and steel, are made at M add agin, Nagamangala, Karatagiri, Magadi, Belur, Tagari, Sravan, and Channapatna in Mysore. The brass and copper utensils, and brass and copper [and also stone] idols of the Tumkur districts are widely noted. In the Hassan district the Jainas enjoy a monopoly of the manufacture, which employs 1,331 persons, who receive orders from all parts of Southern India, Very good brass work is also made at Nellere ; but that of Madura and Tan j ore is superior to all, and the finest in India. In its bold forms, and elaborately inwrought orna- mentation it recalls the descriptions by Homer of the work of the artists of Sidon in bowls of antique frame. Some are simply etched, and others deeply cut in mythological designs [Plate 14] and others [Plate 15] are diapered all over with crustcc of the leaf pattern, seen in Assyrian sculptures, copper on brass, or silver on copper, producing an effect often cf quite regal grandeur. Castellani possesses the finest specimen