CHAP, in S Y L V A 247 



well on fire, that middle hole is also stopp'd, and the 

 rest of the registers so govern 'd, as the knots may 

 keep burning, and not be suffocated with too much 

 smoak ; whilst all being now through-heated, the tar 

 runs down to the hearth, together with some of the 

 more watry sap, which hasting from all parts towards 

 the middle, is convey'd by the foremention'd gutter, 

 into the barrel or vessel placed to receive it : Thus, 

 the whole art of tar-making is no other, than a kind 

 of rude distillation per descensum, and might therefore 

 be as well done in furnaces of large capacity, were it 

 worth the expence. When the tar is now all melted 

 out, and run, they stop up all the vents very close ; 

 and afterwards find the knots made into excellent 

 charcoal, preferr'd by the smiths before any other 

 whatsoever, which is made of wood ; and nothing so 

 apt to burn out when their blast ceaseth ; neither do 

 they sparkle in the fire, as many other sorts of coal 

 do ; so as, in defect of sea-coal, they make choice of 

 this, as best for their use, and give greater prices for 

 it. Of these knots likewise do the planters split out 

 small slivers, about the thickness of one's finger, or 

 somewhat thinner, which serve them to burn instead 

 of candles ; giving a very good light. This they call 

 candle-wood, and it is in much use both in New- 

 England, Virginia, and amongst the Dutch planters 

 in their villages ; but for that it is something offen- 

 sive, by reason of the much fuliginous smoak which 

 comes from it, they commonly burn it in the chim- 

 ney-corner, upon a flat stone or iron ; except, occasi- 

 onally, they carry a single stick in their hand, as 

 there is need of light to go about the house. It must 

 not be conceiv'd, by what we have mention'd in the 

 former description of the knots, that they are only to 



