3rdly. Lay the book on the table
back upwards, daub it thoroughly with paste, put on the calico cover as
neatly as you can, and set it to dry as before; when dry it is complete.
Other Materials for Writing.--Quills and other Pens.--Any feather that is
large enough, can be at once made into a good writing-quill. It has only
to be dipped in hot sand, which causes the membrane inside the quill to
shrivel up, and the outside membrane to split and peel off: a few
instants are sufficient to do this. The proper temperature of the sand is
about 340 degrees. The operation may be repeated with advantage two or
three times. Reeds are in universal use throughout the East for writing
with ink. Flat fish-bones make decent pens.
Pencil.--Lead pencils were literally made of the metal lead in former
days; and there are some parts of the world, as in Arabia, where they are
still to be met with. A piece of lead may be cast into a serviceable
shape in the method described under "Lead," and will make a legible mark
upon ordinary paper. Lead is the best material for writing in note-books
of "Prepared Paper) (which see). A better sort of pencil for general use
is made by sawing charcoal into narrow strips, and laying them in melted
wax to drench for a couple of days, they are then ready for use.
Paint brushes.--Wash the bit of tail or skin, whence the hair is to be
taken, in ox-gall, till it is quite free from grease.
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