5oo

BOOK XI.

When the masses of lead are to be melted, the workman first places the woodin the hearth so that one end of each billet faces the wall, and the other endthe dipping-pot. Then, assisted by other workmen, he pushes the massof lead forward with crowbars on to a low trolley, and draws it to thecrane. The trolley consists of planks fastened together, is two and one-halffeet wide and five feet long, and has two small iron axles, around which ateach end revolve small iron wheels, two palms in diameter and as many digitswide. The trolley has a tongue, and attached to this is a rope, by which it isdrawn to the crane. The crane is exactly similar to those in the second partof the works, except that the crane-arm is not so long. The tongs in whosejaws 6 7 the masses of lead are seized, are two feet a palm and two digits long ;both of the jaws, when struck with a hammer, impinge upon the mass and aredriven into it. The upper part of both handles of the tongs are curved back,the one to the right, the other to the left, and each handle is engaged in oneof the lowest links of two short chains, which are three links long. The upperlinks are engaged in a large round ring, in which is fixed the hook of a chainlet down from the pulley of the crane-arm. When the crank of the craneis turned, the mass is lifted and is carried by the crane-arm to the hearth andplaced on the wood. The workmen wheel up one mass after another andplace them in a similar manner on the wood of the hearth; masses whichweigh a total of about a hundred and sixty centumpondia 1 are usually placedupon the wood and melted at one time. Then a workman throws charcoalon the masses, and all are made ready in the evening. If he fears that it mayr ain , he covers it up with a cover, which may be moved here and there; at theback this cover has two legs, so that the rain which it collects may flow downthe slope on to the open ground. Early in the morning of the following day,he throws five coals on the charcoal with a shovel, and by this method themasses of lead melt, and from time to time charcoal is added. The lead, assoon as it begins to run into the dipping-pot, is ladled out with an iron ladleinto copper moulds such as the refiners generally use. If it does not coolimmediately he pours water over it, and then sticks the pointed pick intoit and pulls it out. The pointed end of the pick is three palms long andthe round end is two digits long. It is necessary to smear the moulds with awash of lute, in order that, when they have been turned upside down andstruck with the broad round end of the pick, the cakes of lead may fall outeasily. If the moulds are not washed over with the lute, there is a risk thatthey may be melted by the lead and let it through. Others take hold of abillet of wood with their left hand, and with the heavy lower end of it theypound the mould, and with the right hand they stick the point of the pickinto the cake of lead, and thus pull it out. Then immediately the workmanpours other lead into the empty moulds, and this he does until the work ofmelting the lead is finished. When the lead is melted, something similar tolitharge is produced ; but it is no wonder that it should be possible to make

6 Chelae ,—“ claws.”

7 If Roman weights, this would be 5.6 short tons, and 7.5 tons if German centner is

meant.