Chap. 41.] THE DIFFERENT KINDS OP IRON. 207 



even in the Italian island of llva,^* being easily distinguished 

 by the ferruginous colour of the earth. The method of working 

 the ore is the same as that employed in the case of copper. In 

 Cappadocia, however, it is peculiarly questionable whether this 

 metal is a present due to the water or to the earth ; because, 

 when the latter has been saturated with the water of a certain 

 river, it yields, and then only, an iron that may be obtained 

 by smelting. 



There are numerous varieties of iron ore ; the chief causes 

 of which arise from differences in the soil and in the climate. 

 Some earths produce a metal that is soft, and nearly akin to 

 lead ; others an iron that is brittle and coppery, the use of which 

 must be particularly avoided in making wheels or nails, the 

 former kind being better for these purposes. There is another 

 kind, again, which is only esteemed when cut into short lengths, 

 and is used for making hobnails ;^^ and another which is 

 more particularly liable to rust. All these varieties are known 

 by the name of " strictura,"^^ an appellation which is not used 

 with reference to the other metals, and is derived from the steel 

 that is used for giving an edge." There is a great difference, 



^ The Isle of Elba, which has been celebrated for the extent and the 

 richness of its iron mines both by the ancients and the moderns. — B. 

 Ajasson remarks that it appears to be a solid rock composed of peroxide 

 of iron. 



55 " Clavis caligariis." See B. viii, c. 44. B. ix. c. 33, and B. xxii. c. 46. 



^6 There have been numerous opinions on the meaning- of this word, 

 and its signification is very doubtful. Beckmann has the following re- 

 marks in reference to this passage : — " In my opinion, this was the name 

 given to pieces of steel completely manufactured and brought to that state 

 which rendered them fit for commerce. At present steel comes from. 

 Biscay in cakes, from other places in bars, and both tliese were formerly 

 called ' stricturse,' because tliey were employed chiefly for giving sharpness 

 to instruments, or tools, that is, for steeling them. In speaking of other 

 metals, Pliny says that the finished productions at the works were not called 

 *strictura3' (the case, for example, with copper), though sharpness could 

 be given to instruments with other metals also. The words of Pliny just 

 quoted are read different ways, and still remain obscure. I conjecture 

 that he meant to say, that soiue steel-works produced things which were 

 entirely of steel, and that others were employed only in steeling— 'ad 

 densandas incudes malleorumve rostra.' I shall here remark that these 

 ' stricturse ferri' remind us of the * striges auri,' (see B. xxxiii. c. 19), 

 such being the name given to native nieces of gold, which, without being 

 smelted, were used in commerce." — ilist. Inv. Vol. II. p. 327. Bohn's 

 Editmt. 



^' " A stringenda acie." The iron was probably formed into thin, 



