1ſwer, that it is nothing but a Compoſition of
the ſmalleſt Stones, the large ones being all bro
ken to Pieces; tho' it is Vitruvius's Opinion,
that Sand, eſpecially that which in Tuſcany
they call the carbuncly Sort, is a Kind of
Earth burnt by the Fire incloſed by Nature
within the Hills, and made ſomewhat harder
than Earth unburnt, but ſofter than any Stone.
Of all theſe they moſt commend the carbuncly
Sort. I have obſerved, that in the publick
Buildings in Rome, they uſed the red as none
of the worſt. Of all the Pit-ſand the white is
the worſt. The gritty is of Uſe in filling up
of Foundations; but among the beſt, they
give the ſecond Place to the fineſt of the
gritty, and eſpecially to the ſharp angular Sort,
without the leaſt Mixture of Earth in it, as is
that which they find in the Territory of the
Vilumbrians. Next to this they eſteem the
River Sand, which is dug after the uppermoſt
Layer is taken off; and next to the River
ſand that of the Torrent, eſpecially of ſuch
Torrents as run between Hills, where the
Water has the greateſt Deſcent. In the laſt
Place comes the Sea-ſand, and of this Sort,
the blackeſt and moſt glazed is not wholly to
be deſpiſed. In the Country, near Salerno,
they eſteem their Sea-ſand not inferior to Pit
ſand, but they ſay it is not to be dug in all
Parts of the Shore alike; for they find it worſt
of all where it is expoſed to the South Wind;
but it is not bad in thoſe Places which look to
the South-weſt. But of Sea-ſands, it is certain
the beſt is that which lies under Rocks, and
which is of the coarſeſt Grain. There is a
great deal of Difference in Sands, for that of
the Sea is very ſlow in drying, and is continu
ally moiſt and apt to diſſolve, by Reaſon of its
Salt, and is therefore very improper and un
faithful in ſupporting of great Weights. That
of the River too is ſomewhat moiſter than the
Pit-ſand, and therefore is more tractable and
better for Plaiſtering-work. The Pit-ſand, by
means of its Fatneſs, is moſt tenacious, but is
apt to crack, for which Reaſon they uſe it in
Vault-work, but not in plaiſtering. But of
each Sort, that is always beſt, which being
rubbed with the Hand creeks the moſt, and
being laid upon a white Cloth, makes the
leaſt Soil, and leaves the leaſt Earth behind it.
On the contrary, that is the worſt, which feels
mealy inſtead of ſharp, and which in Smell and
Colour reſembles red Earth, and being mixed
with Water makes it foul and muddy, and if
leſt abroad in the Air, preſently brings forth
Graſs. Neither will that be good, which af
ter it is dug, is left for any Time expoſed to
the Sun, or Moon, or to Froſts; becauſe it
turns it in a Manner to Earth, and makes it
very apt to rot; or when it is inclined to
bring ſorth Shrubs, or wild Figs, it is ex
tremly bad for cementing of Walls. We have
now treated of Timber, Stone, Lime, and
Sand, ſuch as are approved of by the Anci
ents; but in all Places theſe Things are not
to be found with all the Qualifications which
we require. Tully ſays, that Aſia, by means
of its Abundance of Marble, always flouriſhed
in fine Buildings and Statues; but Marble is
not to be got every where. In ſome Places
there is either no Stone at all, or what there is,
is good for no manner of Uſe. In all the
Southern Parts of Italy, they ſay there is no
Want of Sand-Pits, but on the other Side of
the Appenine there are none. Pliny ſays, the
Babylonians made Uſe of Slime, and the Car
thaginians of Mud. In ſome Places, not ha
ving any Sort of Stone, they build with
Hurdles and Potters Earth. Herodotus tells us,
that the Budini make all their Structures, as
well publick as private, of nothing but Wood,
even to the Walls of their City, and the Sta
tues of their Gods. Mela ſays, that the Nervi
have no Wood at all; and that for Want of it
they are obliged to make their Fires of Bones.
In Ægypt their Fuel is the Dung of their Cat
tle. For this Reaſon, the Habitations of Men
are different, according to the different Conve
niencies of the Country. Among the Ægyp
tians there are Royal Palaces built of Ruſhes;
and in India, of the Ribs of Whales. In Car
ræ, a Town in Arabia, they build with Lumps
of Salt: But of theſe elſewhere. So that as
we have already obſerved, there is not the ſame
Plenty of Stone, Sand, and the like, every
where, but in different Places there are diffe
rent Accommodations and Conveniencies:
Therefore we are to make Uſe of ſuch as of
fer themſelves; and out of thoſe we ſhould,
in the firſt Place, make it our Buſineſs, always
to ſelect and provide the beſt and propereſt,
and, ſecondly, in building with them, we
ſhould carefully allot to each its proper Place
and Situation.
the ſmalleſt Stones, the large ones being all bro
ken to Pieces; tho' it is Vitruvius's Opinion,
that Sand, eſpecially that which in Tuſcany
they call the carbuncly Sort, is a Kind of
Earth burnt by the Fire incloſed by Nature
within the Hills, and made ſomewhat harder
than Earth unburnt, but ſofter than any Stone.
Of all theſe they moſt commend the carbuncly
Sort. I have obſerved, that in the publick
Buildings in Rome, they uſed the red as none
of the worſt. Of all the Pit-ſand the white is
the worſt. The gritty is of Uſe in filling up
of Foundations; but among the beſt, they
give the ſecond Place to the fineſt of the
gritty, and eſpecially to the ſharp angular Sort,
without the leaſt Mixture of Earth in it, as is
that which they find in the Territory of the
Vilumbrians. Next to this they eſteem the
River Sand, which is dug after the uppermoſt
Layer is taken off; and next to the River
ſand that of the Torrent, eſpecially of ſuch
Torrents as run between Hills, where the
Water has the greateſt Deſcent. In the laſt
Place comes the Sea-ſand, and of this Sort,
the blackeſt and moſt glazed is not wholly to
be deſpiſed. In the Country, near Salerno,
they eſteem their Sea-ſand not inferior to Pit
ſand, but they ſay it is not to be dug in all
Parts of the Shore alike; for they find it worſt
of all where it is expoſed to the South Wind;
but it is not bad in thoſe Places which look to
the South-weſt. But of Sea-ſands, it is certain
the beſt is that which lies under Rocks, and
which is of the coarſeſt Grain. There is a
great deal of Difference in Sands, for that of
the Sea is very ſlow in drying, and is continu
ally moiſt and apt to diſſolve, by Reaſon of its
Salt, and is therefore very improper and un
faithful in ſupporting of great Weights. That
of the River too is ſomewhat moiſter than the
Pit-ſand, and therefore is more tractable and
better for Plaiſtering-work. The Pit-ſand, by
means of its Fatneſs, is moſt tenacious, but is
apt to crack, for which Reaſon they uſe it in
Vault-work, but not in plaiſtering. But of
each Sort, that is always beſt, which being
rubbed with the Hand creeks the moſt, and
being laid upon a white Cloth, makes the
leaſt Soil, and leaves the leaſt Earth behind it.
On the contrary, that is the worſt, which feels
mealy inſtead of ſharp, and which in Smell and
Colour reſembles red Earth, and being mixed
with Water makes it foul and muddy, and if
leſt abroad in the Air, preſently brings forth
Graſs. Neither will that be good, which af
ter it is dug, is left for any Time expoſed to
the Sun, or Moon, or to Froſts; becauſe it
turns it in a Manner to Earth, and makes it
very apt to rot; or when it is inclined to
bring ſorth Shrubs, or wild Figs, it is ex
tremly bad for cementing of Walls. We have
now treated of Timber, Stone, Lime, and
Sand, ſuch as are approved of by the Anci
ents; but in all Places theſe Things are not
to be found with all the Qualifications which
we require. Tully ſays, that Aſia, by means
of its Abundance of Marble, always flouriſhed
in fine Buildings and Statues; but Marble is
not to be got every where. In ſome Places
there is either no Stone at all, or what there is,
is good for no manner of Uſe. In all the
Southern Parts of Italy, they ſay there is no
Want of Sand-Pits, but on the other Side of
the Appenine there are none. Pliny ſays, the
Babylonians made Uſe of Slime, and the Car
thaginians of Mud. In ſome Places, not ha
ving any Sort of Stone, they build with
Hurdles and Potters Earth. Herodotus tells us,
that the Budini make all their Structures, as
well publick as private, of nothing but Wood,
even to the Walls of their City, and the Sta
tues of their Gods. Mela ſays, that the Nervi
have no Wood at all; and that for Want of it
they are obliged to make their Fires of Bones.
In Ægypt their Fuel is the Dung of their Cat
tle. For this Reaſon, the Habitations of Men
are different, according to the different Conve
niencies of the Country. Among the Ægyp
tians there are Royal Palaces built of Ruſhes;
and in India, of the Ribs of Whales. In Car
ræ, a Town in Arabia, they build with Lumps
of Salt: But of theſe elſewhere. So that as
we have already obſerved, there is not the ſame
Plenty of Stone, Sand, and the like, every
where, but in different Places there are diffe
rent Accommodations and Conveniencies:
Therefore we are to make Uſe of ſuch as of
fer themſelves; and out of thoſe we ſhould,
in the firſt Place, make it our Buſineſs, always
to ſelect and provide the beſt and propereſt,
and, ſecondly, in building with them, we
ſhould carefully allot to each its proper Place
and Situation.
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