ECONOMIC RESOURCES: IRON. 121 



The furnaces of the Aguriahs are g-enerally erected under some old 



tamarind or other shady tree on the outskirts of 

 Dimensions of furnaces, i i i • 



a Village, or under sheds in a hamlet where only 



Aguriahs dwell, and which is situated in convenient proximity to the 



ore or to the jungle where the charcoal is prepared. The furnaces 



are built of mud, and are about three feet high, tapering from below 



upwards, from a diameter of rather more than two feet at base to 



eighteen inches at top, with an internal diameter of about six inches, 



the hearth being somewhat wider. Supposing the Aguriah and his 



family to have collected the charcoal and ore, the latter has to be prepared 



before being placed in the furnace. 



Three varieties of ore are recognized, viz. :-— 

 Bali = Magnetite. 

 £iji = Haematites from coal-measures. 

 Dherkur = Haematites from laterite. 



Sali is first broken up into small fragments by pounding, and is 

 then reduced to a fine powder between a pair of millstones. The 

 haematites {Biji and Dherhur) it is not usual to subject to any other 

 preliminary treatment besides pounding. 



A bed of charcoal having been placed in the hearth, the furnace is 



_, . . filled with charcoal and then fired. The blast is 



Blowing m. 



' produced by the usual pair of kettledrum-like 

 bellows, which are worked by the feet as in the accompanying illustration, 

 the heels of the operator acting as stoppers to the valves. The blast 

 is conveyed to the furnace by a pair of bamboo twyeres, and has to be 

 kept up steadily without intermission for from 6 to 8 hours. From 

 time to time ore and fuel are sprinkled on the top of the fire, the 

 proportions used not being measured, but probably the operators are 

 guided by experience as to the quantities of each which produce the best 

 results. From time to time the slag is tapped off by a hole pierced 

 a few inches from the top of the hearth. Ten minutes before the con- 

 clusion of the process, the bellows are worked with extra vigour and the 

 supply of ore and fuel from above is stopped. The clay luting of 



( 121 ) 



