Ridpath's history of the world; being an account of the ethnic origin, primitive estate, early migrations, social conditions and present promise of the principal families of men (1897) (14597198247)

Identifier: ridpathshistoryo01ridp (find matches)
Title: Ridpath's history of the world; being an account of the ethnic origin, primitive estate, early migrations, social conditions and present promise of the principal families of men ..
Year: 1897 (1890s)
Authors: Ridpath, John Clark, 1840-1900
Subjects: World history Ethnology
Publisher: New York, Merrill & Baker
Contributing Library: Mugar Memorial Library, Boston University
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston University



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ch iron has been manufac-tured. The indigenous method of smeltingthe ore is still preserved. The verysame processes which wereemployed at the beginningof the historical era arestill in vogue. The great drawbackupon the success of the method employedis the wasteful consumption ofcharcoal. Where iron is smeltedin the open air there must be highheat, long preserved, with theconsequent large consump-tion of fuel. From time im-memorial the native races of appear that this metal was in use beforethis time. From India the knowledgeof the processes of smelting the ore, andthe superiority of the metal thus ob-tained over every other employed in thearts, was in course of time recognizedeven to the extreme limits of Europe. Copper mines are also frequent in In-dia. The best of all are found in theskirts of the Himalayas, in the hill-coun-try lying eastward ofKumaon. The manu-facture of copper hasremained to the pres-ent day in the handsof the natives. Theregion where the oreis abundant is almost
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COPPER VESSELS OE HINDU WORKMANSHIP.—Drawn by Schmidt, from the originals. India have succeeded in producing oneof the purest and best articles ofwrought iron known to men. Sincethe creation of the East Indian em-pire, much foreign capital has beenexpended in establishing works and col-lieries in the country; and modern sci-ence applied to the problem of extractingthe ore has greatly increased the quan-tity, but not the quality, of the metal.It was after the incoming of the Aryanpopulation into India that the manufac-ture of iron was discovered. It does not inaccessible, and the capital of the Westhas not yet made its way Mmmgofcop. into the COUntlW. The per and method , of manufacture. deposits are worked bythe miners of Nepal, according tothe methods which have become tra-ditional through lapse of time. Inmany districts old abandoned coppermines are found, indicating the antiquityof the knowledge of copper in India.The process of working is primitive andsimple. Holes are carried i