sERPENfs. 225 



paper, to keep every thing in its place, and the pot must be covered 

 with paper cemented t < < diies : if a pointed summit or cap be 

 then added to it, the rocket will then be ready for use. 



We shall now givt an account of the different artifices with 

 which such rockets are loaded. 



SECTION I. 

 Of Serpents. 



SERPENTS are small flying rockets, without rods, which instead 

 of rising in a perpendicular direction, mount obliquely, and fall back 

 *n a zig-zag form without ascending to a great height. The com- 

 position of them is nearly the same as that of rockets ; and there- 

 fore nothing more is necessary than to determine the proportion 

 and construction of the cartridge, which is as follows. 



The length of the cartridge may be about 4 inches; it must be rolled 

 round a stick somewhat larger than the barrel of a goose quill, and 

 after being choaked at one of its ends, nil it with the composition a 

 little beyond its middle, and then pinch it so as to leave a small aper- 

 ture. The remainder must be filled with grained powder, which 

 will make a report when it bursts. Lastly, choak the cartridge 

 entirely towards th&extremity ; and at the other extremity place a 

 train of moist powder, to which, if fire be applied, it will be com- 

 municated to the composition, and cause the whole to rise in the 

 air. The serpent, as it falls will make several turns in a zig-zag 

 direction, till the fire is communicated to the grained powder ; on 

 which it will burst with a loud report before it falls to the ground. 



If the serpent be not choaked towards the middle, instead of 

 moving in a zig-zag direction, it will ascend and descend with an 

 undulating motion, and then burst as before. 



The cartridges of serpents are generally made with playing cards. > 

 These cards are rolled round a rod of iron or hard wood, a little 

 larger, as already said, than the barrel of a goose quill. To con. 

 fine the card, a piece of strong paper is cemented over it. 



The length of the mould must be proportioned to that of the 

 cards employed, and the piercer of the nipple must be three or 

 four lines in length. These serpents arc? loaded with bruised pow- 

 der, mixed only with a very small quantity of charcoal. To in. 

 produce the composition into the cartridge, a quill, cut into the 



VOL. TI. Q 



