chap. ii.
53
five days. For separating and fining the gold,alloys were employed, consisting of lead, tin,salt, and barley bran h By these applications,during five days’ continuance, after cooling, amass of clear and purified gold was obtained.The Egyptians are shown by the Mosaic history 1 2to have been acquainted with the art of purify-ing gold. The Hebrew lawgiver was skilledin all the learning of the Egyptians ; and as it isnot related as a display of miraculous power,We may venture to presume that his grindingthe golden calf to powder was effected by theapplication of some substances, perhaps of nitre,which abounded in Egypt , with the knowledge°f which he had become acquainted in thecourse of the education he had received in ther oyal palace.
It is probable, though we have now no notices°n the subject, that the Egyptians managedtheir silver ores in the smelting-houses in thes ame manner as the gold. After the conquest°f Egypt by Cambyses , about 540 years beforeChrist, and whilst under the government of hislieutenant, Aryandes 3 , a great improvement’seems to have been made in the purification ofsilver; for that which was produced under that
1 Diodor. iii. 14. MiZavreg poXiflcov fiwXov, d\oiv, Karrenrtpov
fip a X v i kcu Kpidivoy iriTvpov.
Exodus, cap. xxv. v. 31—36, and cap. xxxii. v. 4.