118 On the Manwfacture ofGlass^ Porcelain^ ^c. 



evidence of its effect; and their early intercourse with India 

 may have led them to the knowledge of the diamond, and of 

 its great utility in engraving those materials. It is also proba- 

 ble that emery powder, as I shall hereafter have occasion to ob- 

 serve, and the lapidary's wheel, were used in Egypt ; and there 

 is little doubt that the Israelites learned the art of cutting and 

 engraving stones in that country.* 



Some glass bottles were enclosed in wicker-work, very nearly 

 resembling what is now called by the Egyptians a damagdn : 

 they were generally of considerable size, holding from one to 

 two gallons of fluid ; and some of a smaller size, from six to 

 nine inches in height, were protected by a covering made of the 

 stalks of the papyrus or cyperus rush, like the modern bottles 

 containing Florence oil : others, again, appear to have been 

 partly cased in leather, sewed over them, much in the same 

 manner as some now made for carrying liquids on a journey. 



Among the many bottles found in the tombs of Thebes, none 



4 



12 3 



Fig. 1, has apparentlj leather sewed over^the glass. 



2, glass damagdn enclosed in wicker work. 



3, glass bottle covered with papyrus rush, like the Florence oil- 



flask^r. In the possession of S. Rogers, Esq. 



4, a piece of cloth with a border of a blue colour. In my possession. 



• The stones engraved by the Israelites were the " sardius, topaz, and car- 

 buncle ; the emerald, sapphiie^ and diamond ; the ligure, agate, and amethyst ; 

 the beryl, onyx, and jasper." Exod. xxviii. 17, l«, 19, 20, and xxxix. 6. 



