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CXIV. This Cement is very ſtrong, and often remains good, even after the Walls it is laid on crack and decay, and the Sand of the Stone they are built with moulders away; for it is often ſeen, that even after ſome Part of a Wall has ſeparated itſelf from the reſt, and is fallen down, other Parts of it ſhall yet hang together, and continue firm and in their Place, by means of the Strength of this Matter which they are covered with.
CXV. This Gypſum may alſo be taken off from Buildings, and by burning, again and again, be made fit for Uſe. It is uſed for the caſing the Outſides of Edifices, principally in Cyprus and Phœnicia, but in Italy, for [1]whitening over the Walls, and other Kind of Ornaments
- ↑ What I have given εἰς τὴν κονίασιν, ſpeaking of the Uſe of the Gypſum in Italy, has ſtood in moſt Copies εἰς τὴν οἰκεῖον, which has been diſtrufted by many not to be the genuine Reading; but imagined by Furlanus to have been
cuſed of miſunderſtanding the Authors he copied from: In too many Places he has indeed but too evidently done this, though in ſome, where he is ſuſpected of it, perhaps he may not be copying from the Authors we accuſe him of miſrepreſenting, but from others, who had either accidentally, or purpoſely, deviated from what thoſe had written, and whoſe Works may be now loſt to us.
