1831.] 
Billiard-cue Wax . 
421 
9 . — Note on the Stalagmitic Balls of the Kasya Caves. 
[Read at a Meeting- of the Physical Class As. Soc.] 
I lately went to see the cave in this neighbourhood. It would be thought a 
very fine one by every person who have not seen the other near Pandua, which 
exceeds it greatly in the dimensions of the halls, &c. I went particularly to en- 
deavour to ascertain the mode in which the ronnd balls, of which I formerly sent 
you specimens, are found -but I cannot even form a conjecture how they can pos- 
sibly obtain that shape. They are found in abundance in only one spot, about 30 
yards from the mouth, to which you descend about 7 or 8 feet, and the balls in 
the level space between this and the next ascent, which may be in length 30 feet. 
They commence at A A, and are there almost all smooth, and of the size of from 
a grape shot to a small pea. At B B, they are larger, and are encrusted with the 
cauliflower looking matter that gives them the appearance of the native sweet- 
meat, called luddoo. It is impossible, as you will see from the situation ot the 
place that they can rounded by a stream running through the cave at any season of 
the year. They seem, however unaccountable it may appear, to be fotmedby 
dropping from the top, but how to account for their assuming a shape almost 
spherical, I know not. One would suppose that they would necessarily be flat on 
the side upon which they rest-and in fact a few are found of that shape, not 
differing in other respects from the round ones. There is a layer o( the balls 
almost six inches thick, and under that two feet of white spar formed by the drip- 
pings from the roof, and similar to the stalactites which depend from it; below these 
. is a mixture of whitest clay and species of broken lime-stone- I shall dig deeper 
hereafter in some other place, being unwilling to disturb the balls by blasting, lor 
they are almost peculiar to this particular spot, a very few only being found in ad- 
vance, No bones were found except some very recent ones, apparently those ol bats. 
10 — Note on Billiard- cue Wax. 
The friend who obliged ns with the essay on Billiards, has further contributed 
forthe benefit of our Mofussil PUUUh the following rece.pt for n.ak.ug the wax 
^chte French use for fixing the leather^ «* *£ - £ £ £ 
which holds better than glue in damp and rainy 
resin of lac obtained by dissolving she, 1-lac in. Mf fi|1 it . 
Receipt— Tat into a bottle as nu.chcoursely pounded sin ^ ^ ^ the 
Upon this pour highly lectihed spin s ’ d for a feW days more, 
bottle frequently for a day or two ^ this otf into a n.eta, cap and 
when a pure clear solut.on w.U be goes out, pour the hot lac on 
set fire to the spirits of wine. su bstance, damping or greasing the 
a piece of glass, plate, or . any S “ ^ when nearly cold, the wax will 
surface to prevent the adhesion into sticks. It will continue to be 
come off in a flexible state, and may e 10 brittle like ordinary 
of a pliant or tough nature, * candle and dropt on the 
sealing wax. A little of this me. e 1 ^ until t h e wax is quite fluid. In 
point of the cue, is to be held neai side of the leather tip, and this 
like manner a little is to be dropt on le of t i ie flame, while the point 
also should be made hot by holdin ® 1 °“ °\ ig wel) me lted on both, quickly 
of the cue is held on the other. ien 1 egg these precautions are taken, 
attach the leather to the point of t e cue. - th the cold surface of the 
the wax is apt to be cooled on com.ng .uto contact 
leather or wood, and does not attach itseit r J ma y be strained through a 
The dregs of the solution remaining m obtained by the above 
piece of cloth, and a further quant.ty of wax w.l 
process ; but it is not so pure as the first. 
