1that the one fits in a
mortise in the middle of the other, and the other likewise
fits in the mortise of the first, thus making a kind of a cross; these sills are
three feet long and one foot wide and thick. The crane-post is round at its
upper end and is cut down to a depth of three palms, and turns in a band
fastened at each end to a roof-beam, from which springs the inclined chimney
wall. To the crane-post is affixed a frame, which is made in this way: first, at a
height of a cubit from the bottom, is mortised into the crane-post a small
cross-beam, a cubit and three digits long, except its tenons, and two palms in
width and thickness. Then again, at a height of five feet above it, is another
small cross-beam of equal length, width, and thickness, mortised into the
crane-post. The other ends of these two small cross-beams are mortised
into an upright timber, six feet three palms long, and three-quarters wide
and thick; the mortise is transfixed by wooden pegs. Above, at a height of
three palms from the lower small cross-beam, are two bars, one foot one palm
long, not including the tenons, a palm three digits wide, and a palm thick,
which are mortised in the other sides of the crane-post. In the same manner,
under the upper small cross-beam are two bars of the same size. Also in the
upright timber there are mortised the same number of bars, of the same length
as the preceding, but three digits thick, a palm two digits wide, the two
lower ones being above the lower small cross-beam. From the upright
timber near the upper small cross-beam, which at its other end is mortised
into the crane-post, are two mortised bars. On the outside of this frame,
boards are fixed to the small cross-beams, but the front and back parts of the
frame have doors, whose hinges are fastened to the boards which are fixed
to the bars that are mortised to the sides of the crane-post.
fits in the mortise of the first, thus making a kind of a cross; these sills are
three feet long and one foot wide and thick. The crane-post is round at its
upper end and is cut down to a depth of three palms, and turns in a band
fastened at each end to a roof-beam, from which springs the inclined chimney
wall. To the crane-post is affixed a frame, which is made in this way: first, at a
height of a cubit from the bottom, is mortised into the crane-post a small
cross-beam, a cubit and three digits long, except its tenons, and two palms in
width and thickness. Then again, at a height of five feet above it, is another
small cross-beam of equal length, width, and thickness, mortised into the
crane-post. The other ends of these two small cross-beams are mortised
into an upright timber, six feet three palms long, and three-quarters wide
and thick; the mortise is transfixed by wooden pegs. Above, at a height of
three palms from the lower small cross-beam, are two bars, one foot one palm
long, not including the tenons, a palm three digits wide, and a palm thick,
which are mortised in the other sides of the crane-post. In the same manner,
under the upper small cross-beam are two bars of the same size. Also in the
upright timber there are mortised the same number of bars, of the same length
as the preceding, but three digits thick, a palm two digits wide, the two
lower ones being above the lower small cross-beam. From the upright
timber near the upper small cross-beam, which at its other end is mortised
into the crane-post, are two mortised bars. On the outside of this frame,
boards are fixed to the small cross-beams, but the front and back parts of the
frame have doors, whose hinges are fastened to the boards which are fixed
to the bars that are mortised to the sides of the crane-post.
Then boards are laid upon the lower small cross-beam, and at a height
of two palms above these there is a small square iron axle, the sides of which
are two digits wide; both ends of it are round and turn in bronze or iron
bearings, one of these bearings being fastened in the crane-post, the other in
the upright timber. About each end of the small axle is a wooden disc, of three
palms and a digit radius and one palm thick, covered on the rim with an iron
band; these two discs are distant two palms and as many digits from each
of two palms above these there is a small square iron axle, the sides of which
are two digits wide; both ends of it are round and turn in bronze or iron
bearings, one of these bearings being fastened in the crane-post, the other in
the upright timber. About each end of the small axle is a wooden disc, of three
palms and a digit radius and one palm thick, covered on the rim with an iron
band; these two discs are distant two palms and as many digits from each