68 KING : COASTAL REGION OP THE GODAVARI DISTRICT. 



placed at the bottom of the furnace, and that the funnel for conveying 

 the wind was placed upon this heap. Some lighted charcoal is put 

 before the opening of the funnel, and the whole cavity is then filled 

 with charcoal, and this is continued as the wall advances in height, the 

 charcoal serving as a support to it, for it is so thin that it would not be 

 able to support its own weight. Within the holes left on each side of 

 the stones, which constitute the middle part of the furnace, some lighted 

 charcoal is also placed. 



" The under part of the cone is also filled with charcoal. Then a 

 small basket of ore is thrown upon it, and upon this likewise some 

 lighted charcoal is placed. Finally, the whole cavity is filled up to the 

 top with charcoal. 



" Matters are allowed to remain in this state till 5 o' clock next 

 morning, when two pair of bellows are applied to the aperture of the 

 funnel, adapted for the insertion of the nozzles ; each pair of bellows is 

 worked by one man. The several vent-holes in the side of the furnace 

 are stopped up with a mixture of clay and sand. The bellows are then 

 worked without intermission, and an intense degree of heat is soon 

 produced. 



" The ore is thrown in by small quantities at a time, in small baskets 

 which do not hold above three or four pounds ; and for every basketful 

 of ore two basketfuls of charcoal are added. As the charcoal burns the 

 ore gradually sinks downwards, and at last the melted iron and scoriae 

 make their way to the bottom. The great object of the workmen is to 

 supply the requisite quantity of charcoal and ore, and they continue 

 their additions till within a little of the time when the reduced iron is 

 taken out of the furnace. 



" A hole was left ready at the bottom to be opened occasionally in 

 order to permit the scoriae to run out. This is done regularly every 

 second hour, or six times during the whole operation. They pierce the 

 clay which stops the passage with a pointed iron, suffer the liquid scoriae 

 to run out, and then secure the hole as before with clay. The cracks 

 produced by the intense heat in the exterior thin wall they take care to 

 ( 262 } 



