( 



/ 45 



ali those kinds of earth, adheres strongly to the 

 tongue. In many of the convents of the capital, the 

 Tnonks manufacture from this clay, jars, bottles, cups 

 and several other articles of beautiful ware, which 

 they varnish and paint very handsomely, on the out- 

 side, with the figures of plants and animals. 



These vessels communicate a very pleasant smell 

 and flavour to the water that is put into them, which 

 undoubtedly proceeds from the solution of some bit- 

 uminous substance contained in the clay. Butas 

 no appearance of bitumen is perceptible in the vi- 

 "Cinity of the pits from whence it is procured, its 

 qualities can only be ascertained by analyzation. 

 Considerable quantities of this ware is exported to 

 Peru and Spain, where it is held in great estima- 

 tion, and known by the name of Búcaros. The Pe- 

 ruvians eat the broken pieces of these vessels as the 

 natives of Indostan do those of Patna. 



The second kind is the clay of Maúle (argilla 

 Maulica). This clay is as white as snow, smooth 

 and greasy to the touch, extremely fine and sprinkled 

 with brilliant specks. It is found on the borders of 

 rivers and brooks in the province of Maiile, in strata 

 which run deep into the ground, and its surface 

 when seen at a distance has the appearance of ground 

 covered with snow, and is so unctuous *and slippery 

 that it is almost impossible to walk upon it without 

 falling. It does not eíFervesce with acids, and instead 

 of losing in the fire any portion of its shining w^hite- 

 ness, it acquires a slight degree of transparency. 

 From its external appearance, when I first saw this 

 clayj I supposed it a kind of fuller's earth very 



