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。。。＇
Deprived of their armourers； the Jews were rendered comparatively
powerless。
It was the knowledge of the art of iron…forging which laid the
foundation of the once great empire of the Turks。 Gibbon relates that
these people were originally the despised slaves of the powerful Khan
of the Geougen。 They occupied certain districts of the mountain…ridge
in the centre of Asia； called Imaus； Caf； and Altai； which yielded
iron in large quantities。 This metal the Turks were employed by the
Khan to forge for his use in war。 A bold leader arose among them； who
persuaded the ironworkers that the arms which they forged for their
masters might in their own hands become the instruments of freedom。
Sallying forth from their mountains； they set up their standard； and
their weapons soon freed them。 For centuries after； the Turkish
nation continued to celebrate the event of their liberation by an
annual ceremony； in which a piece of iron was heated in the fire； and
a smith's hammer was successively handled by the prince and his
nobles。
We can only conjecture how the art of smelting iron was discovered。
Who first applied fire to the ore； and made it plastic； who
discovered fire itself； and its uses in metallurgy？ No one can tell。
Tradition says that the metal was discovered through the accidental
burning of a wood in Greece。 Mr。 Mushet thinks it more probable that
the discovery was made on the conversion of wood into charcoal for
culinary or chamber purposes。 〃If a mass of ore；〃 he says；
〃accidentally dropped into the middle of the burning pile during a
period of neglect； or during the existence of a thorough draught； a
mixed mass； partly earthy and partly metallic； would be obtained；
possessing ductility and extension under pressure。 But if the
conjecture is pushed still further； and we suppose that the ore was
not an oxide； but rich in iron； magnetic or spicular； the result
would in all probability be a mass of perfectly malleable iron。 I
have seen this fact illustrated in the roasting of a species of
iron…stone； which was united with a considerable mass of bituminous
matter。 After a high temperature had been excited in the interior of
the pile； plates of malleable iron of a tough and flexible nature
were formed； and under circumstances where there was no fuel but that
furnished by the ore itself。〃*
＇footnote。。。
Papers on Iron and Steel； 363…4。
。。。＇
The metal once discovered； many attempts would be made to give to
that which had been the effect of accident a more unerring result。
The smelting of ore in an open heap of wood or charcoal being found
tedious and wasteful； as well as uncertain； would naturally lead to
the invention of a furnace； with the object of keeping the ore
surrounded as much as possible with fuel while the process of
conversion into iron was going forward。 The low conical furnaces
employed at this day by some of the tribes of Central and Southern
Africa； are perhaps very much the same in character as those adopted
by the early tribes of all countries where iron was first made。 Small
openings at the lower end of the cone to admit the air； and a larger
orifice at the top； would； with charcoal； be sufficient to produce
the requisite degree of heat for the reduction of the ore。 To this
the foot…blast was added； as still used in Ceylon and in India； and
afterwards the water…blast； as employed in Spain （where it is known
as the Catalan forge）； along the coasts of the Mediterranean； and in
some parts of America。
It is worthy of remark； that the ruder the method employed for the
reduction of the ore； the better the quality of the iron usually is。
Where the art is little advanced； only the most tractable ores are
selected； and as charcoal is the only fuel used； the quality of the
metal is almost invariably excellent。 The ore being long exposed to
the charcoal fire； and the quantity made small； the result is a metal
having many of the qualities of steel； capable of being used for
weapons or tools after a comparatively small amount of forging。
Dr。 Livingstone speaks of the excellent quality of the iron made by
the African tribes on the Zambesi； who refuse to use ordinary English
iron； which they consider 〃rotten。〃*
＇footnote。。。
Dr。 Livingstone brought with him to England a piece of the Zambesi
iron； which he sent to a skilled Birmingham blacksmith to test。
The result was； that he pronounced the metal as strongly resembling
Swedish or Russian； both of which kinds are smelted with charcoal。
The African iron was found 〃highly carbonized；〃 and 〃when chilled it
possessed the properties of steel。〃
。。。＇
Du Chaillu also says of the Fans； that； in making their best knives
and arrow…heads； they will not use European or American iron； greatly
preferring their own。 The celebrated wootz or steel of India； made in
little cakes of only about two pounds weight； possesses qualities
which no European steel can surpass。 Out of this material the famous
Damascus sword…blades were made； and its use for so long a period is
perhaps one of the most striking proofs of the ancient civilization
of India。
The early history of iron in Britain is necessarily very obscure。
When the Romans invaded the country； the metal seems to have been
already known to the tribes along the coast。 The natives had probably
smelted it themselves in their rude bloomeries； or obtained it from
the Phoenicians in small quantities in exchange for skins and food；
or tin。 We must； however； regard the stories told of the ancient
British chariots armed with swords or scythes as altogether
apocryphal。 The existence of iron in sufficient quantity to be used
for such a purpose is incompatible with contemporary facts； and
unsupported by a single vestige remaining to our time。 The country
was then mostly forest； and the roads did not as yet exist upon which
chariots could be used； whilst iron was too scarce to be mounted as
scythes upon chariots； when the warriors themselves wanted it for
swords。 The orator Cicero； in a letter to Trebatius； then serving
with the army in Britain； sarcastically advised him to capture and
convey one of these vehicles to Italy for exhibition； but we do not
hear that any specimen of the British war…chariot was ever seen in
Rome。
It is only in the tumuli along the coast； or in those of the
Romano…British period； that iron implements are ever found； whilst in
the ancient burying places of the interior of the country they are
altogether wanting。 Herodian says of the British pursued by Severus
through the fens and marshes of the east coast； that they wore iron
hoops round their middles and their necks； esteeming them as
ornaments and tokens of riches； in like manner as other barbarous
people then esteemed ornaments of silver and gold。 Their only money；
according to Caesar； consisted of pieces of brass or iron； reduced to
a certain standard weight。*
＇footnote。。。
HOLINSHED； i。 517。 Iro