Chinese Fire.
10. Chinese Fire.—The principal ingredient which forms this beautiful composition, has been already described in article 6, section 2, under the name of Iron-sand; what we have to give in this place is, the proportion in which it is used with the other ingredients; the composition is rendered into two particular distinctions, namely, red and white, and each of them made with different proportions of the ingredients according to the calibres of the cases intended to be filled with it, which calibre is estimated by the weight of lead balls, which will just fill out their diameter, as was taught in the Article Gerbes.
Composition for Chinese Fire.
For Red Chinese Fire.
| Calibres. | Salt-petre. | Sulphur. | Charcoal. | Sand 1st order. | |
| I. | 12 to 16 lb. | 1 lb. | 3 ozs. | 4 ozs. | 7 ozs. |
| II. | 16 to 22 lb. | 1 lb. | 3 ozs. | 5 ozs. | 7 ozs. 8 drs. |
| III. | 22 to 36 lb. | 1 lb. | 4 ozs. | 6 ozs. | 8 ozs. |
For White Chinese Fire.
| Calibres. | Salt-petre. | Bruised powder. | Charcoal. | Sand 3d order. | |
| I. | 12 to 16 lb. | 1 lb. | 12 ozs. | 7 ozs. 8 drs. | 11 ozs. |
| II. | 16 to 22 lb. | 1 lb. | 11 ozs. | 8 ozs. | 11 ozs. 8 drs. |
| III. | 22 to 36 lb. | 1 lb. | 11 ozs. | 8 ozs. 8 drs. | 12 ozs. |
After carefully weighing the several ingredients, observe to sift the salt-petre and charcoal two or three times through a hair sieve in order that they may be well mixed; the iron-sand is then to be moistened a little with brandy or spirits of wine, which will make the sulphur adhere, and they must be well incorporated. The sand now said to be sulphured, must be put to the mixture of salt-petre and charcoal, and then stirred and turned about till the parts are thoroughly incorporated.