130 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



in basket-work in this country from a very early period, 

 and there is some probability that the Britons taught 

 the art to the Romans at least, from the mention of a 

 basket brought to Rome by painted Britons, in Mar- 

 tial, we should be led to infer that baskets of British 

 manufacture were esteemed in the capital of the 

 world. 



The timber of the willow is applicable to many 

 purposes similar to those in which the poplar is em- 

 ployed, and in toughness it is far superior. The an- 

 cient Britons sometimes made their boats of basket- 

 work of willow, and covered them with'the skins of 

 animals: they were remarkably light and buoyant. 

 Willow bark may be used in tanning and in dyeing. 



The willow is used extensively in the manufacture 

 of charcoal ; and it has been found to be superior to 

 most other woods in producing charcoal for gun- 

 powder^ A good deal depends, however, upon the 

 manufacture. In the ordinary modes of making 

 charcoal, by building the wood up in a pyramidal 

 form, covering the pile with clay or earth, and leaving 

 a few air holes, which are closed as soon as the mass 

 is well lighted, combustion is imperfectly performed. 

 For charcoal to be used in the manufacture of gun- 

 powder, the wood should be ignited in iron cylinders, 

 so that every portion of vinegar and tar which it pro- 

 duces should be suffered to escape. In India, char- 

 coal is manufactured by a particular caste, who dwell 

 entirely in the woods, and have neither intermarriage 

 nor intercourse with the Hindoo inhabitants of the 

 open country. They bring down their loads of char- 

 coal to particular spots, whence it is carried away by 

 the latter people, who deposit rice, clothing, and iron 

 tools, a payment settled by custom. The benevolent 

 Bishop Heber wished to mitigate the condition of 

 these unfortunate people, but he found that he could 

 not break through the Hindoo prejudice against them. 



