THE DAWN OF METALLURGY. 301 
metallurgists too, have no knowledge of tin in a native state; but 
I would suggest to the author of the paper that that is simply a 
matter of negative evidence, and in connexion with natural 
science, there is no more dangerous principle to go on than 
to trust to negative evidence. Although mineralogists and 
metallurgists are not, in the present day, acquainted with 
tin in a native state, those who organised the metallurgy of 
bronze may possibly have known of its existence in that 
state. I do not put this forward for a moment as a conclusion 
that is to be accepted, but merely as a possibility. Then, with 
regard to the fact that the ores of tin do not present any metallic 
appearance, that is perfectly true; but there is one thing about 
these ores of tin which, I think, ought not to be lost sight of by the 
author of the paper, and that is their great weight. A very prolific 
source of the metal tin is what is termed stream tin. I have been 
in Mexico, and have here, on the table, to-night, specimens of 
stream tin ore from Durango, in Mexico, and also from Cornwall ; 
and if any one will take one of these tin pebbles,—for such they 
may really be called,—I think he will be astonished to feel the 
extraordinary weight ; in fact, they feel as though they were really 
of the same specific gravity as gold, Now, if we suppose that a 
people acquainted with the properties of copper fell in with one of 
these pebbles, they would at once, I think, infer from their great 
weight that there must be metal of some kind in these pebbles ; 
therefore, the next step would be to experiment with the pebbles 
and endeavour to get the metal, whatever it was, from the pebble 
and the ore with which it is combined, which is the ordinary 
combination of oxygen with the metal, That is the idea here that 
occurs to me, and perhaps it is a matter which the author may 
say a word about in his reply. May I, in conclusion, express my 
special obligation to him for his interesting and instructive paper ? 
The Aurnor.—In regard to what has just been said and the first 
question that was asked, it may be interesting to mention what is to be 
found in Hvans’s work on Ancient Bronze Implements of Great Britain 
with regard to the use of lead. It seems to imply that in Egypt lead 
was used sometimes in the place of tin. There is one sentence here 
which bears on it :—* The argument, however, that the Phoonician 
bronze would have been lead bronze, because the Phoenicians 
derived their civilisation and arts from Hgypt and had continual 
intercourse with that country, where lead bronze was early known, 
appears to me wanting in cogency. The copper dagger analysed by 
YOL. XXIII. Ny 
