318 Mr. Mallet on the Physical Conditions 



Alexander was opposed by artillery, down to the end of the twelfth or beginning of the 

 thirteenth century, no records of its use in Asia appear known in European tongues ; such 

 may exist in Oriental languages, however. 



Carpini, writing in 1246, says, that he observed that the armies of Prester John had 

 copper tubes, which, mounted on horseback, vomited, in a wonderful manner (he knew 

 not how), fire and smoke, whereby his enemies were struck and overthrown (Murray, 

 " Hist. Disc"). These seem to have been the predecessors of the Camel batteries, so com- 

 mon in the East at this day. 



It is impossible, however, here to refer to innumerable facts, scattered through many 

 authors, that sustain this view, and indicate not only that cannon were made and in use in 

 China and the Indian peninsula at a very remote period, and, with the knowledge of 

 gunpowder, conveyed thence into Europe, but that even the early methods of manufacture 

 were brought also from the East. As to the former, amongst many others, the following 

 works may be consulted: — Murray's " Hist. Discoveries in Asia;" Staunton's " Embassy 

 to China;" Du Halde's " History of China;" Elliott's " Blbliogr. Index, Hist. Moham. 

 India;" Fave, " DesOrigines de la Poudre;"La Lanne, "Acad, des Inscrip., 1840; Brigg's 

 "Hist. !Moham. Power in India;" " Algemeine Deutsche Encycl. ;" " Marion recueil des 

 bouches a Feu les plus remark," &c. ; Col. Symes' " Embassy to Ava ;" and the works 

 previously quoted. The latter proposition, as to the early knowledge of fire-arms in Asia, 

 will become illustrated by the following — 



Notices erf some of the most remarkable Ancient Cannon, in Size or Construction. 



The earliest European artillery of large size consisted of " Serpentines" and "Bom- 

 bards," — both being formed of longitudinal bars of wrought-iron, arranged like the staves 

 of a cask, and hooped all over, or nearly so, with wrought-iron rings, shrunk-on hot upon the 

 bars. The Serpentine was of small caliber, but of enormous length. Perhaps the most 

 remarkable specimen existing is in the collection of the Arsenal of Neuville, canton of 

 Berne: it is only about 2 inches caliber, but about 10 feet in length of chase, or about si.xty 

 calibers, formed of wrought-iron, with rings shrunk-on at some inches apart; the breech is 

 fixed, and it was loaded from the muzzle. The gun lies imbedded to its horizontal 

 diameter, and for its whole length, in a timber bed, like a musket-stock, against which the 

 breech abuts, as it has no trunnions. The whole is mounted on a well-contrived field 

 carriage, with two large wheels and trail ; the bed or stock of the gun being balanced over 

 the axle and jointed to the trail, so as to elevate and depress in a very judicious manner. 

 The whole is extremely interesting, as presenting the germ of our modern field artillery- 

 carriage. The total weight is nearly 4 tons. It was taken by the Swiss, from Charles 

 le Temeraire, at the battle of Granson, in 1476, and an engraving of it occurs in the Emperor 



