Greek Fire of the Middle Ages. 9 



ledge of explosive compounds in the east. Even gunpowder 

 is mentioned in the code of Hindoo laws ; and that code is, by 

 oriental antiquaries, supposed to reach back to the time of 

 Moses. It may also be added, that there is a passage in 

 Quintus Curtius, where a compound possessed of these qualities 

 is mentioned, strongly confirming these testimonies. 



If this is thus far right, the claims of the early orientals to the 

 Greek fire is established. The Greeks might have received it 

 from the Arabians, or from a more direct source ; but it seems 

 likely that Western Europe, at least, is indebted to this people 

 for its knowledge of pyrotechny. It will be useful to shew 

 that this art is of more ancient date among us than is commonly 

 imagined. 



I quote through Hallam. An Arabian writer in theEscurial 

 Collection, about the year 1249, as translated by Casiri, has the 

 following passage : " Serpunt susurrantque scorpiones circum- 

 ligati ac pulvere nitrato incensi,unde explosi-fulgurant atque in- 

 cendunt. Jam videre erat manganum excussum veluti nubem per 

 aera extendi", ac tonitrus instar horrendum edere fragorem, ignem- 

 que undequaque vomens, omnia dirumpere, incendere, in cineres 

 redigere." This appears to be the description of a rocket, and 

 does not much disagree with Joinville's account of the Greek 

 fire at Acre. 



We may puzzle ourselves, indeed, somewhat between a rocket 

 and a shell, or carcass ; yet this would make no difference as 

 far as relates to the question of the Greek fire. The u serpunt," 

 the " susurrant," and the " circumligati," apply best to the 

 description of the former. But the use of the " manganum," 

 from which our early engine, the mangonel, derives its name, 

 bespeaks a mechanical force which could not have been required 

 for a rocket, and which is moreover not very easy of application. 

 We might almost also conclude that this was a shell, from the 

 effects : " omnia dirumpere, incendere, in cineres redigere," 

 applies rather to this machine than to a rocket, unless indeed 

 these were contrived, like the Congreve rockets, to carry a shell 

 with them. There is exactly the same difficulty in Joinville's 

 account of his Greek fire, as will appear hereafter. 



