Dr. Pearson's Experiments , &c. 323 
•* contrivances." He likewise observes, that when wootz is 
« heated above a slight red heat, part of the mass seems to 
“ run, and the whole is lost, as if it consisted of metals of dif- 
“ ferent degrees of fusibility." We learn also from Dr. Scott's 
letter, that “ the working with wootz is So difficult, that it is a 
u separate art from that of forging iron." It will be proper 
also to notice his observation, that “ the magnetical power in 
“ an imperfect degree can be communicated to this substance." 
§ 2. Mechanical and obvious Properties . 
The specimens of wootz were in the shape of a round cake, 
of about live inches in diameter, and one thick ; each of which 
weighed somewhat more than two pounds. The cake had been 
cut almost quite through, so as to nearly divide it into two 
equal parts. It was externally of a dull black colour ; the sur- 
face was smooth ; the cut part was also smooth, and, excepting 
a few pinny places and small holes, the texture appeared to be 
uniform. It felt about as heavy as an equal bulk of iron or 
steel. It was tasteless and inodorous. No indentation could 
be made by blows with a heavy hammer ; nor was it broken 
by blows which I think would have broken a like piece of 
our steel. Fire' was elicited on collision with flint. Under 
the file I found wootz much harder than common bar steel 
not yet hardened, and than Huntsman's cast steel not yet 
hardened. It seemed to possess the hardness of some kinds of 
crude iron, but did not effectually resist the file like highly 
tempered steel, and many sorts of crude iron : for although 
the teeth of the file were rapidly worn down and broken, the 
wootz was also reduced to the state of filings. The filed sur- 
face was of a bright bluish colour, shining like hardened steel ; 
but some parts were brighter than others ; and the most shin- 
