A black powder, composed of various substances, is placed in the tube and pressed up to the end, a wad of cotton or other material being forced down upon it.

A large ball made of this metal, which is called iron, and almost the same diameter as the tube, is pushed down upon the wad; and the weapon is pointed at the enemy, or at the wall to be knocked down.

Then fire is applied to the small hole, the powder at once explodes with a noise like thunder, and the ball is sent through the air with so great a speed that the eye cannot follow its flight, and all that it strikes goes down before it." "Even one of these captains on his horse ?" the king asked.
"Fifty of them, Sire, were they ranged up in line, one behind the other." "Will you be able to teach us to make such weapons ?" "Your Majesty, I have had a share in the using of these weapons, but not in the making of them; and they require great skill in their manufacture.

I know not whether iron stone exists in this country, and were it found it would require a long experiment and great knowledge to manufacture a cannon from it.

As to the powder, it is composed of three ingredients--one is charcoal, which can be obtained wherever trees grow; another is called by us saltpeter; and the third, sulphur; but I cannot say whether either is found in this land.