Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-01-17

The use of bricR as building material,
both burnt and unburnt, dates from very
early period. Burnt brick is recorded II
the Bible to have been used in the erection
of the Tower of Babel. We have the tes-
umony of Herodotus to the effect that
burnt bricks were made from the CITY
thrown cut of the trenches surrounding
Babylon. Statements of travellers show
that the Babylonian brick is very much
like tile, being from II to IS inches
square, and 81 inches thick. Most of
them bear the name inscribed IN cunel-
form of Nebuchsdnezzar. whose buildings
no doubt replaced those of an earlier age.
they were sometimes glszed and enam
eled in various colors SemIramus is SAID
by Dlodorus to have overland some of her
towers with surfaces of enameled bricks.
Sun-dried bricks we're exclusively used in
aucient times, especially ia Egypt, where
the manufacture was considered most
degrading employment, and as such formed
the principal part of the occupation of the
israeiItes during their bondage, after the
death of Joseph. These Egyptian SUM-
dried bricks were made of clay mixed
with chopped straw, which was furnished
to the children of Israel by their Egyptian
tsskmasters, before the application of
Moses to Pharaoh in their behalf. After
this the obligation was put upon them to
furnish their own straw, which appears 10
have been Ike the last straw upon the
camel's back-tOo much to be borne.
1t appears from the details given that
the Israehtes worked in gangs under the
superIDtendence of one of their own na-
ton, who was provided with all the nee
essary tools, and then held personally res
ponsible for the labors of his men. Some
Egyptian bricks were made without straw,
and are now found as perfect ss on the
day when they were put up, In the region
Of Amonopohs and Thotmes. whose names
they bear. When made of Nile mud they
needed straw to keep them together. but
when formed OF Clay taken from the ter
rent beds on the edge of the desert they
held together without aid. Among the
paiatlngs at Thebes, enc on the tomb OF
Rekshara. an officer of the court of Thot-
mes LII (B. G. 1400) represents the en-
forced labors Of capiives, who are distin-
guished from the natives by the colors
with which they are drawn.
Watching over the laoorers are the
s1askmasters," who armed with sticks,
are receiving the ''tlle of bricks" and
urging on the work. The process Of dig
ging out the clay, of moulding and OF
arranging, are all duly represented. The
process OF manufacture in Egypt was very
similar to that adopted at the present time
in that country. The clay was brought in
baskets from the Nile, thrown into heap,
thoroughly saturated with water, and
worked to proper temper by the feet OF
the laborefs. This appears 10 have been
done entirely by the Qight-colored) cap
tives, the (ted) Egyptian stunning tie
work which must have been oppressive
and unwholesome as possible in that clI-
mate. The clay when tempered was cut
by an instrument res imb-ing very much
an agricultural hoe and nodded In an OBJ
long trough. The bricks were then dried
in the sun.
Burnt bricks were used in Egypt for
river walls and hydraulic WORKS, but not
10 any great extent Eaclosuies of garden
or granaries. sacred circuits encOinpasslny
the courts of temples, walls of forti1ca-