Others build a hollow vaulted chamber, of which the paved floor is made
concave toward the centre. Inside the thick walls of the chamber are the
furnaces. The doors through which the wood is put are in the outer part of the
same wall. They place the pots in the furnaces and fill them with crushed
ore, then they cement the pots and the furnaces on all sides with lute, so that
none of the vapour may escape from them, and there is no entrance to the
235[Figure 235]
concave toward the centre. Inside the thick walls of the chamber are the
furnaces. The doors through which the wood is put are in the outer part of the
same wall. They place the pots in the furnaces and fill them with crushed
ore, then they cement the pots and the furnaces on all sides with lute, so that
none of the vapour may escape from them, and there is no entrance to the
A—ENCLOSED CHAMBER. B—DOOR. C—LITTLE WINDOWS.
D—MOUTHS THROUGH THE
WALLS. E—FURNACE IN THE ENCLOSED CHAMBER. F—POTS.
furnaces except through their mouths. Between the dome and the paved
floor they arrange green trees, then they close the door and the little windows,
and cover them on all sides with moss and lute, so that none of the quick
silver can exhale from the chamber. After the wood has been kindled the
WALLS. E—FURNACE IN THE ENCLOSED CHAMBER. F—POTS.
furnaces except through their mouths. Between the dome and the paved
floor they arrange green trees, then they close the door and the little windows,
and cover them on all sides with moss and lute, so that none of the quick
silver can exhale from the chamber. After the wood has been kindled the