Sec. XIII. Of Chinese Fountains, and Parasols.
The manner of constructing the wood work of a Chinese fountain is as follows: Procure a perpendicular piece of wood, seven feet long, and two and a half inches square. At sixteen inches from the top, fix on the front a cross piece, one inch thick, and two and a half inches broad; with the broad side up. Below this, fix three more pieces of the same width and thickness, at sixteen inches from each other. Let the bottom rail be five feet long, and the others of such a length as to allow the fire-pumps to stand in the middle of the intervals of each other. The pyramid being thus made, fix in the holes, made in the bottom rail, five fire-pumps, at equal distances: on the second rail, place four pumps; on the third, three; on the fourth, two; and on the top of the post, one. Place them all, however, to incline a little forward, so that when they throw out the stars, they may not strike against the cross rails. The fire-pumps are to be clothed with leaders, in order that they may all be fired together.
Cases for Fire-pumps are made in the same manner as those for tourbillons. See [Fire-pump], and also [Fire-pots] of various kinds.
The effect of these cases depends entirely on the star-composition. Stars, previously moulded, are introduced into them along with meal-powder.
Parasols are also formed with Chinese fire. A horizontal wheel is provided, and its circumference is clothed with eight or ten cases of that fire. These cases may be five-sixths of an inch in diameter, and, when inflamed, should throw their fire horizontally. The fire, in this instance, is made to resemble a sheaf; but the ordinary composition is generally used. The cases, however, should play horizontally. To make the wheel turn on its pivot, two cases of white fire are attached to it. The parasol, produced by the fire, is from twenty-five to thirty feet in diameter. It is formed in consequence of the fire coming in contact, and producing a concave sheet in its fall, resembling a parasol when extended.
Sec. XIV. Of Wings or Cross Fire.
Nearly similar to one of the pieces described, that of the representation of a tree, is the cross-fire, or wings, a name given to it, because it resembles the sails, or wings of a windmill.
In forming this piece, two sticks, eight feet in length, are provided, and through the centre of each, a square hole is made, to receive a piece of iron of the same size, through which is a hole to admit a pivot.
When these sticks are put together, there must be a sufficient distance between them to prevent their rubbing each other. Five cases, charged with the composition of brilliant fire, are fixed to each extremity, proceeding towards the centre, at a short distance apart, and making in all twenty cases. Four of these cases are placed at each end, nearly horizontally, resembling the rounds of a ladder, the sticks being nearly vertical; and the one nearest the centre is placed almost vertically, or rather obliquely. The cases, being connected with leaders, when fired, turn with the sticks in an opposite direction to each other.