Pumice Stone

Piimioe, as is well known, is of volcanic origin, being a trachytic lava which has been rendered light by the escape of gases when in a mol ten state. It is fouiid on most of the shores of the Tyrhenian sea and elsewhere, but is at present alinost exclusively obtained from the little island of Lipari. Most of the volcanoes of Lipari have ejected pumaceous rocks, but the best stone is alJ the product of one ruountain, Monte Chirica, nearly 2,000 feet in height, with its two acoessory craters. The district in which the pumice is excavated covers an area of three square miles. It has been calculated that about 1,000 hands are engaged in this industry, 600 of vehom are employed in extricating the mineral. Pumice is brought to the surface in large blocks or in baskets and is carried thus either to the neighboring village or to the seashore to be taken there in . boats. The supply is said to be practioally inexhaustible. Pumice is used not merely for scouring and cleansing purposes, but also for polishing in numeroBS trades, henee the fact that the powdered pumice exported exceeds in weight the block pumice. Between 20 and 30 merchants are engaged in the