258 



A DISCOURSE 



III. commodious firing of the pit, as they call it, though not very properly. 



^ This provided for, go on to pile, and set your wood upright to the other 

 as before, till, liaving gained a yard more, you lay it long-ways again, 

 as was sliewed : and thus continue the work, still interchanging the posi- 

 tion of the wood till the whole area of the hearth and circle be filled and 

 piled up at the least eight feet high, and so drawn in by degrees in piling, 

 that it resemble the form of a copped household loaf, filling all inequa- 

 lities with the smaller truncheons till it lie very close, and be perfectly and 

 evenly shaped. This done, take straw, haum, or fern, and lay it on the 

 outside of the bottom of the heap, or wood, to keep the next cover from 

 falling amongst the sticks ; upon this put the turf, and cast on the dust 

 and rubbish which was grubbed and raked up at the making of the 

 hearth, and reserved near the circle of it ; with this cover the whole 

 heap of wood to the very top of the pit or tunnel to a reasonable and 

 competent thickness, beaten close and even, that so the fire may not vent 

 but in the places where you intend it ; and if, in preparing the hearth, 

 at first there did not rise sufficient turf and rubbish for this work, supply 

 it from some covenient place near to your heap. There be who cover 

 this again with a sandy or finer mould, which, if it c'.ose well, need not 

 be above an inch or two thick. This done, provide a screen by making 

 light hurdles with slit rods and straw of a competent thickness to keep 

 off the wind, and broad and high enough to defend an opposite side to 

 the very top of your pit, being eight or nine feet, and so as to be easily 

 removed, as n,eed shall require, for the luing of your pit. 



When now aU is in this posture, and the wood well ranged and closed, 

 as has been directed, set fire to your heap ; but first you must provide 

 you a ladder to ascend the top of your pit ; this they usually make of 

 a curved tiller, fit to apply to the convex shape of the heap, and cut it 

 full of notches for the more commodious setting their feet while they 

 govern the fire above ; therefore, now they pull up and take away the 

 stake which was erected in the centre to guide the building of the pile 

 and cavity of the tunnel : this done, put in a quantity of charcoals, 

 (about a peck,) and let them fall to the bottom of the hearth ; upon 

 them cast in coals that are fully kindled ; and when those which were 

 first put in, are beginning to sink, throw in more fuel, and so, from 

 time to time, till the coals have universally taken fire up to the top ; then 

 cut an ample and reasonable thick turf, and clap it over the hole, or 



