16*8 AJingutar Phenomenon 



to be fit for being worked, it is mixed with a fomewhat lef* 

 quantity of umber, and formed into pipe-bowls, either in a 

 mould, or by being applied to the lath. 



When thefe bowls have been fufficiently burnt, they ac- 

 quire a dark brown colour, which, however, changes into a 

 beautiful red as foon as they have bten well rubbed with a 

 piece of leather fprinkled over with fine pulverifed blood- 

 fbone (hematites). Owing to this fimple procefs we obtain 

 from the Eaft thofe red pipe-bowls, fo much and fo generally 

 efteemed, at a very low price, as five of them are generally 

 fold for a para*. When they are ornamented, however, 

 with a gilt border, painted with golden flowers, enamelled 

 or fet with precious ftones, one of them will coft fometimes 

 two, three, and even four piaftres \, 



X. A Jingular Phenomenon re/peeling Snow, fome of which 

 of a red Colour was found on the Alps. By M. DE 

 Saussure. From Voyages dans les Alpes. Vol. III. 



VV HEN M. de Sauflure explored mount Breven, for 

 the firft time, in the year 1760, he found in feveral places 

 on a declivity fnow ftill remaining, and was not a little fur- 

 pvifcd to fee the furface of it, in various parts, tinged with a 

 very lively red colour. This colour was brighteft in the 

 middle of fuch fpots as had their centres more deprefled 

 than the edges, or where different planes covered with fnow 

 feemed to be joined to each other. When he examined this 

 fnow more clofely, he remarked that its rednefs proceeded 

 from a very fine powder mixed with it, and which had pene- 

 trated to the depth of two or three inches, but no farther. 

 It did not appear that this powder had come from the 

 higher parts of the mountain, becaufe fome of it was found 

 in places at a considerable diftance from the rocks and much 



* The value of a para is about three farthings. 

 f A piaftre is equal to aboyt half-a-cuwiio 



Jovvor 



