253 



absence of carhon, in any form, removes all doubt in regard to its 

 being possibly of artificial formation. 



Every form of iron which has been the subject of manufac- 

 ture, contains carbon. And it is an interesting observation in this 

 connection, that, in the large number of samples of ancient 

 irons, and those produced by semi-civilized people, which I have 

 analyzed, not only has carbon been present, but the proportion 

 was always larger than exists in the iron of commercial people. 

 Tt appears that the rude workmen, in producing this useful metal, 

 stop at that point where the half-refined iron is sufficiently duc- 

 tile to take, under the hammer, the required form ; while the 

 purer irons are produced later in history, when the more highly 

 prized qualities become known. 



The discovery of native malleable iron in Liberia is interesting 

 to science ; and if found in abundance, it will exert its usual 

 civilizing influences, in a quarter to which the eyes and sympa- 

 thies of philanthropists of the world are now directed. I may 

 add, that two scimetars, made by the people of the interior, have 

 been shown to me, and it was apparent, from the cross flaws and 

 unequal texture, that they were not made from European iron. 



The present specimen came from the tract of country on the 

 St. John's River, recently purchased for the New Jersey Colony. 



In the country back from Cape Palmas, and also further north, 

 in the Sah-Po country, the natives have sufficient iron to supply 

 their wants, and the evidence, so far as human testimony is con- 

 cerned, is full and complete, that they obtain this iron by heat- 

 ing the rocks, " mixed with brushwood and charcoal, in piles," 

 the iron remaining after the combustion of the fuel ; a mode 

 which could not produce iron from any known ore, even in the 

 state of cast iron. 



Prof. JeflTries Wyman exhibited some of the results of 

 experiments of the formation of rain impressions in clay. 



From his investigations, it appears that ordinary rain marks 

 are characterized by the existence of radiating lines around the 

 circumference of the impressions ; which are caused by the frag- 

 ments of the drops, as they are dispersed, often impinging upon 

 the plastic surface. 



