298 Mr Robertson on the Mechanical Arts of Persia^ 



Planes, figs. 4, 5, 6, 7. As these plane-irons have no covers, 

 the planes are used across the grain of the wood. 



Hammer, fig. 8. 



Nail, fig. 9. Instead of a head, part of the thick end is beat 

 out thin, and this is turned over with the hammer as the nail 

 is driven down. 



Bow and Drill, fig. 10. This is a good instrument, and is 

 used as a brad-awl, gimblet, and brace and bit. 



To this list many smaller tools might be added. 



Smithwork. — As the work on which the Persian blacksmiths 

 have to exert their skill is usually small, their tools are light 

 and simple. The iron generally used is of Russian manufac- 

 ture, which is brought from the ports on the Caspian Sea on 

 the backs of mules. In the northern parts of Persia, mal- 

 leable iron is manufactured directly from the ore ; and this 

 description of iron has been long esteemed for making excel- 

 lent horse-shoes, and horse-shoe nails. 



A short time since I described this manufacture in a com- 

 munication to the Royal Society ; and as the paper has been 

 published in their Transactions, any farther notice of the pro- 

 cess is here unnecessary. 



As coal is almost unknown in Persia, the fuel used by the 

 smiths is entirely charcoal prepared from hard wood. The 

 smiths stand when the work requires to be heated, but in 

 finishing, or making small articles, they sit on the ground. 



The hearth is a small platform, without a chimney, having 

 a low wall on one side, to prevent the bellows being injured 

 by the heat. 



Bellows, figs. 11, 12, 13. The bellows are double, and the 

 two nozzles enter the twyre together. They are worked by 

 a man, who stands between the handles, and by his pushing 

 forward and drawing back the handles alternately a steady 

 blast is produced. 



Anvil, fig. li. For small work, a rectangular piece of iron 

 is often used. 



Hammers, fig. 15. 



Tongs, fig. 16. 



Drill, fig. 17. This instrument is sometimes made of wood, 

 and sometimes of iron, and works remarkably well, not with- 



