160 Miscellaneous InteUigence. 



4. Persian Metallurgical Processes. — The following metal- 

 lurgical operations were described in the laboratory of the Royal 

 Institution, by Oostad Muhammed Ali. From the clear manner in 

 which he illustrated the description, by the disposal of the ap- 

 paratus about him, there is not much chance of any important 

 error or omission in this account of them. 



Persian Method of purifying Silver. — A sort of basin is made, 

 either by excavating the ground, or by arranging stones in a 

 circle. This is from nine to twelve, or fourteen inches wide, 

 and is incomplete at the side in one place, for the reception of 

 the fuel, which, by its combustion, is to melt the metal. The fuel 

 consists of two large and long logs of wood, which are placed with 

 their ends in the aperture on the edge of the basin. These ends 

 are lighted by putting a little burning fuel on them, and then 

 the blast from a pair of bellows is directed on to and over the 

 fire, so as to direct the flame and heat into the basin, in the 

 manner, indeed, of a large blow-pipe. Lead, containing silver, 

 or impure silver with lead, is then placed in the basin, which 

 being soon melted and heated by the flame, is purified as by 

 common cupellation. The litharge is forced off to the sides as 

 it is formed, and either absorbed or lost, and as the wood 

 burns away before the jet of air, the logs are thrust onwards, 

 until all is consumed ; then fresh logs are applied, if necessary, 

 or the process is stopped, as may be found expedient. 



Manufacture of Steel in Persia. — Oostad Muhammed Ali 

 thus describes Persian steel-making : — Iron is brought from the 

 mountains, but he does not know how it is obtained : a square 

 place is built up, about four feet in the side, and five or six feet 

 high, the walls being eight or nine inches thick ; stones of a slaty 

 kind are put across this on the inside, about eighteen inches 

 from the bottom, so as to form a grate ; below this is a cham- 

 ber for the reception of the melted steel, and above it is placed 

 the iron in bars, and charcoal intermingled together. There 

 are three apertures just above the grate into the furnace, into 

 which air is propelled from bellows, worked by men sitting ; a 

 fire is lighted, and the heat raised, fresh charcoal is thrown on 

 as that in the furnace burns away ; and as the iron becomes 



