270 



P Y ft T E C H N Y. 



I'yrotech- use d on water, by means of proper floats. It only re- 

 v_jl y ' mains, therefore, to add a few words respecting those 

 """Y"""' transparent figures for the water, which are recom- 

 mended in the books of pyrotechny. 



In this manner it has been attempted to represent 

 water fowl, ships, and other more complicated figures ; 

 such as chariots with tritons and dolphins, and similar 

 heathen devices. Such figures as this are, however, 

 rather the business of the artist who constructs machi- 

 nery for the theatres ; and we shall, therefore, forbear 

 to give any directions concerning them. They do not 

 admit of much fire ; and, generally speaking, their ef- 

 fects are very poor, when compared with the trouble and 

 expence with which they are attended. An artist will, 

 at any rate, find no difficulty in arranging in them such 

 fireworks as they are capable of bearing : and it must 

 also be left to his own judgment to place the communi- 

 cations in such a manner as shall best insure their pro- 

 per performance. 



In terminating this part of the subject, although 

 somewhat out of place, we shall also point out the faci- 

 lity with which a paper kite may be converted into a 

 firework, by disposing lights upon it, and setting these 

 on fire when it is in the air, by means of a line rocket 

 on its string. But a strong breeze of wind is necessary 

 for this purpose, while it is also only applicable to ob- 

 jects of private amusement. 



The Chinese Drum. 



The Chi- This very entertaining and delicate firework is pecu- 

 nese drum, liar to the Chinese, and is described in terms of no small 

 PJ.ATE admiration, and of something like wonder, in Sir 

 ccccLxxv. G eor g e Staunton's narrative. No account of its con- 

 struction has yet been published, and as we have both 

 dissected and imitated it, we are able to gratify the cu- 

 riosity both of our readers and of the pyrotechnists. It 

 will be necessary to consult the plate on this subject, 

 as the description could not be rendered intelligible 

 without that assistance. 



In its external appearance, this machine resembles a 

 drum, or a cylindrical bandbox, and is generally orna- 

 mented with paintings of various kinds, so as to give 

 it a pleasing appearance. When it is to be fired, it is 

 suspended from a proper stand, at a height of 12 or 15 

 feet, by means of a loop at the top, and is fired by 

 means of a match at the lower end. Immediately there 

 drops out below a transparent piece, accompanied by a 

 firework of some kind, which, after it is burnt out, falls 

 to the ground, and is succeeded by another object, but 

 of a different nature, and so on in succession, until the 

 whole is expended. The number or succession of these 

 mutations may be unlimited, as it is quite as easy to 

 insure the proper burning of a hundred as of two; but 

 it is generally confined to ten or twelve. 



These objects consist of castles, ships, lanterns, or 

 other devices, which vary according to the fancy of the 

 artist, and which we must leave, in a great measure, 

 to the discretion of our own pyrotechnists, as we can 

 only describe enough of them to convey an idea of the 

 general principle. The effects are easily apprehended. 

 If it be a lantern, for example, that first comes down, 

 it is painted in transparency, with figures of men or 

 animals, or with fruit or flowers, or with architectural 

 patterns, or with any other objects according to the 

 fancy of the operator. The colouring may also be va- 

 ried ; so that if there are two or more lanterns employ- 

 ed in one drum, they may be as different from each 

 other.as possible. They may in the same way vary in 



shape, so as to represent cylinders, or globes, or cones, 

 or pyramids, or other figures, so as to produce an infi- 

 nite variety. At the moment that such a lantern, if 

 that be the object, falls down, it is illuminated within 

 by means of a speckie, or illumination light; and as 

 the colours of these may be varied, so the appearances 

 of the firework are. There may further be two lights 

 of different colours, the one to succeed the other, so 

 that the varieties, of which the lantern alone is suscep- 

 tible, are very great, even in its simplest form. 



But it may also be further modified, by introducing 

 fires of different kinds round its lower margin, such as 

 small gerbes, or spur lights, or crackers, or serpents, or 

 wheels. These are managed further in various ways, 

 so as to fire in different successions ; all of these being 

 regulated by the general methods which we shall pre- 

 sently describe. In these several ways then, and by 

 variously combining them, the number of appearances 

 that the lantern may display is such, as, in the hands 

 of an ingenious artist, to produce as much variety as 

 can be desired. 



Supposing now that this first figure, consisting thus 

 of a lantern, is expended, as soon as it falls to the 

 ground, perhaps two ships descend from the drum. 

 These may also be varied in many ways, as to their 

 forms and colours, and they are so managed as to en- 

 gage each other. These also are made of transparent 

 painted paper, properly supported, like the lantern, by 

 a wooden framework. The guns consist of small 

 crackers, disposed on the gunwales ; and they may be 

 further varied by carrying lights in the tops, or wheels 

 at their sides or sterns, or by discharges of sky-rockets, 

 which, for this purpose, are made no larger than the 

 smallest goose quill. The form and the smoke of our 

 own steam-boats might very appropriately be intro- 

 duced in this manner. Single ships are also made use 

 of, and then they are decorated with flags, illuminated 

 with lights, and provided with rockets, wheels, crackers, 

 and other emblems of rejoicing. 



The next mutation may be a castle, and this also ad- 

 mits of much variety. It may be painted and lighted 

 in various ways, and further provided with any of the 

 different fireworks already mentioned. Or two castles 

 may be made to engage each other, or else a ship may 

 engage with a castle ; all of these being conducted 

 exactly on the same principles, and varied according to 

 the taste and ingenuity of the artist. An illuminated 

 pagoda offers another mode of mutation, as do houses, 

 temples, and various objects which we need not 

 enumerate. Animals may also be introduced. Thus, 

 dragons or griffins may be caused to engage each other 

 with fire, as may enchanters and fiery chariots ; but 

 we need not describe more of the figures and mutations 

 that may be introduced into this very amusing fire- 

 work. We will, therefore, proceed to describe the con- 

 struction, as far as it can be rendered intelligible with- 

 out actually examining the machine itself. 



To make the case or including cylinder, as many 

 hoops of ash or cane are required as there are mutations 

 intended, and one more. The diameter of these de- 

 pends on the intended size of the firework. It cannot 

 conveniently be less than a foot and a half, and does 

 not commonly exceed three. As it is difficult for an 

 unpractised band to succeed in making this machine 

 on a small scale, it will be found convenient to adopt 

 the larger sizes. 



Supposing now that six mutations are required, the 

 total length of the case or drum must be three feet, or 

 somewhat more, if the diameter exceeds two feet. An 



