266 The Natural Histoid 



place, from whence they draw a Funnel some distance from 

 the Kiln. Then they take the Light-wood which they pile 

 up with the ends of each, placed slanting towards the center 

 of the Kiln, which is generally made taper from the Ground, 

 afterwards they cover it very secure with Clay, Earth, or 

 Sods, to keep in the Flames, after this is done they set it on 

 fire at the Top, the Weather permitting, which must be 

 neither too dry nor too wet. By this means the Tar runs 

 into the center, and from thence into the Funnel, where they 

 attend Night and Day (with Ladles to put it into Barrels 

 prepared for that purpose) till the Kiln is quite burnt out, 

 which is generally in eight and forty Hours or less, accord- 

 ing to the dimensions of the Kiln. It sometimes happens 

 through ill management, and especially in too dry Weather, 

 that these Kilns are blown up as if a train of Gun-powder 

 had been laid under them by which Accident their Negroes 

 have been very much burnt or scalded. The Planters gener- 

 ally know very near what quantity of Tar each of their 

 Kilns will produce, according to their dimensions, for which 

 reason they are always provided with a sufficient ^NTumber 

 of Barrels for that end. 



The Pitch is made of the Tar, which is done in the follow- 

 ing manner. They have large Furnaces made in several 

 parts, and more now than ever, by reason of a late act of 

 Parliament made in the Reign of his present Majesty, which 

 obliges every Person or Persons that burn Tar-hilns in his 

 Majesties dominions in America to make half of the first 

 running into Tar, and the other half into Pitch, the penalty 

 being a forfeture of the whole. With this second runnirg 

 they fill their furnaces, and so place a fire underneath it till 

 such time as it begins to boyl, then they set it on fire and 

 burn it to the consistence of Pitch. 



The 



