1800.] Method of making Gunpowder in Eg ypt. 227

further’ of any impurities from’ the dye. They. are next given to the ſtiffeaer, who ſtiftens them with. good common glue and warm water /a great deal weaker than the Dyers uſe). When ſtiffened, they are again placed in the ſtove, lying upon light railing, with their brims down. By this means it the glue ſhould run it runs into the band, where it ought to be ſtrongeſt.— When dry, the glue is cleared from the under-ſide of the brim, (when it has received the ſtiffening) with ſoap and hot ſoft water; they are replaced in-the ſtove to dry from the clearing; and when dry, they are laid in a damp place to cool, twenty-four hours, at leaſt, when they are given to the finiſher, who lays the knap fat, in the manner it is when ſold, with bruſh and Water,‘and an iron, the ſame ſhape as women iron linen with) about 18 or 201b. weight. After finiſhing, a lining is put in; they are bound in‘the brim, and“ done of,” that 18, ironed over again, when they are ready for ſale.

You will eaſily perceive from this account, Mr. Editor, how extremely defective and erroneous all the Encyclopedias are in their accounts of this manufa@tory, and how neceſlary it is for the public information, to give a corre& ſtatement the firſt opportunity. 1 conchude, by requeſting your correſpondents to give, through the channel‘of your Magazine, any remarks, diſcoveries,&c. on the above; and, by aſſuring you that I am,

| Your Servant,

Newcaftle, Feb. 10, 1800. TAC:

For the Commercial and Agricultural Magazine.

À sIMPLE METHOD or maKkiNe GUNPOWDER 1 EGYPT. BEY CITIZEN ANDREOSSY.

HE ſulphur uſed in Egypt, is uſually carried thither from

Venice and Trieſte. The charToal is made from the lupin,‘a plant which. bears a ſmall bitter fruit, the ſtalk of which is turned into trenches, and produces a very ſoft charcoal, which is-poured and paſted through a ſieve. Saltpetre is indigenous in Egypt: the earth is ſaid to be contained in veins, which are worked in ſome places in the neighbourhood of Cairo; and the proceſs employed in the making it is the ſame as in Europe, only chat here the falt-petre is ſometimes found. The gun- powder 1s fabricated by means of manual labour. It is com- poſed of cight parts of ſaltpetre, two of ſulphur, and two-of charcoal.‘Theſe materials are thrown into mortars, cut in ſtone, and rounded at the bottom.‘The diameter, at top, is a foot; and the depth a foot. The workmen ſit, almoſt naked, on a bench, Every mortar contains fifteen pounds of compoſition,