CENTURY VIII. 47 



Experiment solitary touching fuel that consumeth little 

 or nothing. 



774. It is reported, that at the foot of a hill near 

 the Mare Mortuura there is a black stone (whereof 

 pilgrims make fires) which burneth like a coal, and di- 

 minisheth not ; but only waxeth brighter and whiter. 1 

 That it should do so is not strange : for we see iron 

 red hot burneth, and consumeth not ; but the strange 

 ness is, that it should continue any time so ; for iron, 

 as soon as it is out of the fire, deadeth straightways. 

 Certainly it were a thing of great use and profit, if 

 you could find out fuel that would burn hot, and yet 

 last long : neither am I altogether incredulous but 

 there may be such candles as they say are made of 

 salamander s wool ; being a kind of mineral, which 

 whiteneth also in the burning, and consumeth not. 

 The question is this ; flame must be made of some 

 what ; and commonly it is made of some tangible body 

 which hath weight: but it is not impossible perhaps 

 that it should be made of spirit or vapour in a body, 

 (which spirit or vapour hath no weight,) such as is 

 the matter of ignis fatuus. But then you will say, 

 that that vapour also can last but a short time : to 

 that it may be answered, that by the help of oil, and 

 wax, and other candle-stuff, the flame may continue, 

 and the wick not burn. 



Experiment solitary ceconomical touching cheap fuel. 



775. Sea-coal lasts longer than charcoal ; and char 

 coal of roots, being coaled into great pieces, lasts longer 



1 Sandys, p. 111. But for brighter we oucjht. on the authority of the 

 in Sandys, to read lighter. 



