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ceased to be an article of necessity or luxury, 

 yet the method of its preparation has occasion- 

 ally attracted the notice of travellers, and oc- 

 cupied the time of the curious. Ciampina, of 

 Rome, in 1691, published the following as the 

 best way of preparing the incombustible cloth. 

 Having previously steeped the Amianthus in 

 warm water, divide its fibres by gently rubbing 

 them with the fingers, so as to loosen and 

 separate all the extraneous matter ; then pour on 

 repeatedly very hot water, as long as it continues 

 *o be in the least discoloured. Nothing will be 

 now left but the long fibres, which are to be 

 carefully dried in the sun. The bundles of 

 thread are to be carded with very fine cards, 

 and the long filaments thus obtained, are to be 

 steeped in oil, to render them more flexible. 

 A small quantity of cotton or wool is to be 

 mixed, and by means of a thin spindle, the 

 whole is to be drawn out into a thread, taking 

 care that in every part the Amianthus may be 

 the principal material. The cloth being then 

 woven in the usual manner, is to be placed in a 

 clear charcoal fire to burn off the cotton and 

 oil, when the whole remaining tissue will be 

 pure white Amianthus. The shorter fibres that 



