5l6 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1732. 



at hand for the workman to wet his bricks with; and if this liquor prove too 

 thick, dilute it with fresh water. 



Observe also, that the mortar here is not only to be well beaten and mixed 

 together, but also laid very well, and every brick, or piece of brick, flushed in 

 with the mortar, and every cranny filled up, yet not in thick joints, like the 

 common English mortar; and also over every course of bricks, some to be 

 throwed on very thin; and where the work has stood, though but for a break- 

 fast or a dining-time, before you begin again, wet it well with this liquor with 

 a ladle, and then lay on your fresh mortar; for this mortar, notwithstanding its 

 being thus wetted, dries much sooner than one not used to it would conceive, 

 but especially in hot weather. 



For some very strong work, the same mortar above is improved as follows: 

 Take coarse tow, and twist it loosely into bands as thick as a man's finger, (in 

 England ox-hair is used instead of this tow) then cut it into pieces of about an 

 inch long, and untwist it so as to lie loose; then strew it lightly over the other 

 mortar, which is at the same time to be kept turning over, so that this stuff 

 be beaten into it, keeping labourers continually beating in a trough, and mix- 

 ing it till it be well incorporated with all the parts of the mortar. And, as it 

 will be subject to dry very fast, it must be frequently softened with some of 

 the aforesaid liquor of jaggery, gram, and myrabolans, and some fresh water; 

 and when it is so moistened and beaten, it will mix well; and with this they 

 build, though it be not usual to build common house-walls thus, when the 

 work is intended to be very strong, as for instance, Madras church steeple, 

 which was building when Mr. Pyke was last there; and also for some ornaments, 

 as columns, good arched work, or imagery set up in gardens, it is thus made. 



Though for common buildings about Madras, where the rainy season holds 

 not above 3 months in the year, and sometimes less, they usually lay all the 

 common brick-work in a loamy clay, and plaster it over on both sides with this 

 mortar, which is yet further to be improved. 



Having the mortar thus prepared, as above, separate some of it, and to every 

 half bushel, take the white of 5 or 6 eggs, and 4 oz. of ghee, or ordinary un- 

 salted butter, and a pint of butter-milk, beaten all well together: mix a little of 

 the mortar with this, till all the ghee, whites of eggs, and butter-milk be soaked 

 up ; then soften the rest well with plain fresh water, and so mix all together, 

 and let it be ground, a trowel full at a time, on a stone with a stone-roller, in 

 the same manner that chocolate is usually made, or ground in England ; and 

 let it stand by in a trough for use. When you use it, in case it be too dry, 

 moisten it with some water, or the before mentioned liquor. This is the second 

 coat of plastering. 



