for making the Alcarrazas. 3J$ 



other nations, unlefs recommended by fome favourable in- 

 cident. 



Though France is fo near to Spain, and though there has 

 always been great intercourfe between thefe two countries, 

 no traveller has ever yet given an account of the procefs em- 

 ployed in the fabrication of the above vafes. The introduc- 

 tion of them into France would, in my opinion, be attended 

 with great advantage ; for, befides the pleafure of drinking 

 cool water during the great heats, we ought to take into 

 confideration the benefit that would arife from them in 

 regard to the health. I have, therefore, procured correct 

 information refpecling the manner in which thefe vafes are 

 made in Spain; and I have brought alcarrazas to France, as 

 well as the earth employed in the fabrication of them. 



Cit, Darcet was defirous of analyfing this white marly 

 earth ; and, by employing all the precifion necefTary for that 

 purpofe, he found that 100 grains of it contained 60 of cal- 

 careous earth mixed with alumine and a little oxvd of iron 

 difficult to be diflblved, and 36 - of filiceous earth alfo 

 mixed with alumine and the fame oxvd *. The quantity 

 of iron may be eftimated at almoft a grain. The procefs for 

 fabricating the alcarrazas is very fimple ; and, as the earth 

 employed abounds in France, it will be eaiy, by the method 

 which I (hall explain, to e'ftablifh manufactories of this 

 kind ; the expences of which will be trilling, and the profits 

 certain, if the public do not refufe to adopt a ufeful practice. 



The preparation given to the earth may be reduced to 

 three principal operations. 



ijl Preparation. Suppofe it were neceffary to manufac- 

 ture 150 pounds of earth: after it has been dried, and divided 

 into portions of the fize of a walnut, it is macerated in a 

 1 or tub, by proceeding in the following manner : The 



* A French journal (rates the refult of Cit. Darcet's analyfis thus: 

 " About one third part of calcareous earth ; one ti :rd alumine; one third 

 ■mixed with a very fmall portion of iron.' 1 liuiT. 



13 b 3 workman 



