Author: Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak (1551-assassinated 1602) Ain-i-Akbari, Volume 1 https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32526 iii "As it was, about 1590 A. D." xxi "It was about the same time that Abul Fazl was promoted to the post of a Commander of two thousand and five hundred horse. Under this rank he has entered his own name in the list of grandees in the Ain i Akbari, which work he completed in the same year when he collected his brother's literary remains (1596-7)." 226 ON ESTIMATES OF HOUSE BUILDING. ... Lac (varnish work) used for chighs [sliced bamboo sticks, placed horizontally, and joined by strings, with narrow interstices between the sticks. They are painted, and are used as screens.] If red, 4 s. of lac, and 1 s. of vermilion; if yellow, 4 s. of lac, 1 s. of zarnikh (auripigment). If green, 1/4 s. of indigo is mixed with the lac, and zarnikh is added; if black, 4 s. of lac and 8 s. of indigo. Ain-i-Akbari, Volume 2 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.hl426v;view=1up;seq=7 282 Since to crush their enemies is the way of the princes of the earth, Duryodhana was ever in fear of the Pandavas and sought their destruction. When Dhritarashtra observed the growing feud, he resolved to establish his nephews in the city of Varanavatra, and sent skilled artisans with instructions to build their residences. The workmen at the instigation of Duryodhana constructed a secret chamber of lac and pitch, in order that at a fitting opportunity the Pandavas might be destroyed in a flaming conflagration. But whom the Lord defends by his protection, what avails him against the striving of the impotent? When the Pandavas accepting their exile, settled in this spot, they became aware of the design. By chance a woman with five sons dwelt hard by. The Pandavas set the house on fire and set out for the wilds with their mother, while their neighbours were consumed in the flames. Duryodhana believing that the Pandavas were destroyed, held a festival of rejoicing. The Pandavas after many adventures came forth from the wilds to the inhabited country and settled in the city of Rampila. In a short time, the fame of their valour, skill and open-handed munificence filled the world, but none knew their name or lineage, till Duryodhana himself awaking from his dream of security suspected that the burning of the Pandavas was a fable. After prosecuting inquiries, his suspicions 283 were confirmed, upon which he had recourse to entreaty, and recalled them with protestations of friendship, hoping thus to secure his aim.... Unsuspecting foul play, their uprightness brought them to ruin... Ain-i-Akbari, Volume 3 https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.46757 314 WORKMEN IN DECORATIVE ART. In other countries the jewels are secured in the sockets made for them, with lac, but in Hindustan, it is effected with kundan which is gold made so pure and ductile that the fable of the gold of Parviz which he could mould with his hand becomes credible... At first the ornament is 315 fashioned quite plain and here and there they leave sockets for the setting of the jewels. These sockets are filled with lac and a little of the gold is inserted above it, and on this the jewel is pressed down. The overflow of the lac is scraped off and it is then weighed... -------------------------------------- Part of a set at http://toolbytool.org/resources/Japanning.html .