540 Asphaltic Mastic, to Flooring, Roofing, [No. 139. 



the mineral pitch and render the asphalte cheaper to use in India, as 

 the pitch need not be exported. In case some such expedient should 

 be resorted to, I will here annex the cost of the separate material, 

 as well as of the mastic or compound as sold by the Proprietors in 

 London. 



1 Ton of Asphalte powder £5 



Cask, &c 14 



Mineral Pitch, (proportion 2 cwt.) ... .. 1 18 



Total,... £8 2 

 The mastic is in blocks of 1 Cwt. each 18 X 6 X 4 and £6 10*. per 

 Ton ; with the mastic however a little pitch is necessary to flux the 

 first quantities when using, as will appear presently. 

 1 Ton of Asphalte, or . . 20 Cwt. 



Fine Grit, 8 do. 



Pitch, 2 do. 



Total 30 Cwt. will cover a space of 400 

 feet 3/8 thick for flooring. Exported in large quantities the cost of 

 100 superficial feet would be from 12 to 15 Rupees, exclusive of the 

 substratum of concrete. 



Instructions for use. 



The mastic being ductile, great care must be taken to have a good 

 foundation of concrete, or lime gravel, or broken bricks, with a thin 

 coat of hydraulic mortar over all, the surface being made level : on this 

 the mastic in a semifluid state is laid 3/8 in thickness. 



Mode of preparing the Mastic for use. 



In the absence of a proper cauldron, such as is shewn in Fig A. 

 a large pitch pot may be used over a strong fire; the blocks are broken 

 up to the size of 5 or 6 ins. cube, and put into the cauldron with 1 per 

 cent, of pitch to flux the lower layer ; more mastic is put in by degrees 

 when the first quantity is melted, which will flux the rest in succession, 

 care being taken to stir it the whole time with the instrument shewn at B. 



When the Cauldron is full or a sufficient quantity melted, and it has 

 assumed the consistency of jam, it is fit for use. If the work is ex- 

 to have been fixed only with respect to existing aurangs: new ones 



