us of the Inhabitants, that they are so fond of their Blackness, that they will not suffer any that is not of that Colour (as the Portugalls that come to Trade thither) to be so much as Buri’d in their Land, of which he annexes a particular example,[14] that may be seen in his Voyage preserv’d by our Industrious Countreyman Mr. Purchas.  But it is high time for me to dismiss Observations, and go on with Experiments.

  [11] Piso Nat. & Med.  Hist. Brasil. lib 1. in fine.

  [12] Purchas Pilgrim.  Second part, Seventh Book 3.  Chap.  Sect 5.

  [13] Purchas.  Ibid.

  [14] Purchas Ibid. in fin

EXPERIMENT XII.

The way, Pyrophilus, of producing Whiteness by Chymical Praecipitations is very well worth our observing, for thereby Bodyes of very Differing Colours as well as Natures, though dissolv’d in Several Liquors, are all brought into Calces or Powders that are White.  Thus we find that not only Crabs-eyes, that are of themselves White, and Pearls that are almost so, but Coral and Minium that are Red, being dissolv’d in Spirit of Vinegar, may be uniformly Praecipitated by Oyl of Tartar into White Powders.  Thus Silver and Tin separately dissolv’d in Aqua Fortis, will the one Praecipitate it self, and the other be Praecipitated by common Salt-water into a White Calx, and so will Crude Lead and Quicksilver first dissolv’d likewise in Aqua Fortis.  The like Calx will be afforded as I have try’d by a Solution of that shining Mineral Tinglass dissolv’d in Aqua Fortis, and Praecipitated out of it; and divers of these Calces may be made at least as Fair and White, if not better Colour’d, if instead of Oyl of Tartar they were Praecipitated with Oyl of Vitriol, or with another Liquor I could Name.  Nay, that Black Mineral Antimony it self, being reduc’d by and with the Salts that concurr to the Composition of common Sublimate, into that Cleer though Unctuous Liquor that Chymists commonly call Rectifi’d Butter of Antimony, will by the bare affusion of store of Fair Water be struck down into that Snow-white Powder, which when the adhering Saltness is well wash’d off, Chymists are pleas’d to call Mercurius Vitae, though the like Powder may be made of Antimony, without the addition of any Mercury at all.  And this Lactescence if I may so call it, does also commonly ensue when Spirit of Wine, being Impregnated with those parts of Gums or other Vegetable Concretions, that are suppos’d to abound with Sulphureous Corpuscles, fair Water is suddenly pour’d upon the Tincture or Solution.  And I remember that very lately I did, for Tryal sake, on a Tincture of Benjamin drawn with Spirit of Wine, and brought to be as Red as Blood, pour some fair Water, which presently mingling with the Liquor, immediately turn’d the whole Mixture White.  But if such Seeming