HOPLISTICS. 491 



are first mixed intimately, in a dry state ; then moistened, and ground 

 in the powdermill ; then granulated, or shaped into grains, by being 

 passed through a parchment sieve ; next dried, by exposure to mode- 

 rately heated air ; and finally glazed, by the rubbing together of the 

 grains, in a revolving barrel or cylinder. Many precautions, and the 

 greatest care, are necessary, in this manufacture, to avoid dangerous 

 explosions. 



The name shot, is applied only to solid balls, used in fire arms. 

 Round shot, are single balls ; and when attached to a bag, containing 

 a charge of powder, to facilitate the loading, they are called car- 

 tridges. Case or canister shot, are small balls enclosed in tin cases, 

 but scattering when the cases burst : and grape shot, are similar 

 balls, placed around an iron stem, and fastened there by a coat of 

 canvass and twine, resembling a bunch of grapes. Shells, are hollow 

 balls, filled with powder, and sometimes containing small missiles ; 

 being intended to burst, as they strike, and scatter their fragments or 

 contents. The smaller shells are fired from howitzers, which are 

 mounted like guns : but the larger shells, or bombs, are thrown in 

 an elevated direction, from mortars. Shells are exploded, by means 

 of a fuse, driven into a hole on one side, which must be outermost, 

 in loading. The fuse is ignited, by the firing of the piece ; and 

 burns gradually, for a time depending upon its own length, before it 

 explodes the shell. A grenade, is a small shell, to be thrown by 

 hand ; and a petard, is an iron cone, charged with powder, and de- 

 signed to break open a gate, by being driven into it, and then exploded. 

 These articles are transported in caissons, or waggons of peculiar 

 construction designed for this service. 



Port fires, are long tubes, made of paper, and compactly filled 

 with a mixture of nitre, sulphur, mealed powder, (powder finely 

 ground,) and antimony, or steel filings ; their chief use being to fire 

 cannons ; as they will burn even in moist places, or in the rain. 

 Slow match, for retaining fire, consists of hemp or cotton rope, 

 soaked in a strong ley, which contains a small portion of nitre. 

 Quick match, for setting off fire works, is make of cotton thread, 

 first saturated with nitre, and then dipped in a mixture of alcohol and 

 mealed powder, of the consistence of cream ; out of which it is 

 reeled, and afterwards dried. Fuses, for firing shells, are wooden 

 tubes, filled with a composition of 4 parts of nitre to one each of 

 sulphur and mealed powder ; and so rammed, or driven, that one 

 inch of it may burn in five seconds. Hock fire, is a mixture of 

 powder, nitre, sulphur, and sometimes rosin and iron filings, used in 

 shells, carcases, and incendiary balls, to set fire to buildings or ships. 

 Light balls, are intended for illumination ; and when armed with 

 loaded pistol barrels, grenades, and the like, to prevent the enemy 

 from extinguishing them, they are called fire balls. Smoke balls, 

 are used for filling mines with smoke ; and thundering barrels, 

 filled with explosive materials, are employed in defending forts 

 against an escalade. 



3. Under the head of Equipments, using the term in a general 

 sense, we include the various other portable articles, besides arms 

 and ammunition, required for warlike operations on land ; such as 



