146 MANUFACTURING IRON. 



spot where they have erected their chimnies, 

 for smelting. The chimriies are formed of 

 clay., on a ground work of stones, about four 

 feet and half high, and eighteen inches 

 diameter., with the funnel about nine inch- 

 es wide; two openings are made in each 

 chimney; one at the bottom through which 

 the lava or dross runs off, the other a little 

 above, through which, by removing a stone 

 or two, the iron is taken out. 



On a level with the top of the chimney, a 

 stage is erected, covered with leaves or mats, 

 on which are deposited the stones containing 

 the ore, pounded as small as nutmegs, and 

 the charcoal is also broken small. For bellows 

 they use two circular wooden, or earthen 

 bowls, with flat bottoms, about fourteen inches 

 diameter; into each of which a hollow bam- 

 boo, of about two feet and a half long is fixed ; 



wood carried across the shoulder, to which two strings 

 or nets are fastened, and to them the burdens are fixed. 



