[ *8 9 1 



XLVT. Defcriptton of the Salt Mines ofWielitJka^ in Poland. 

 By J. Peschier, M.D.* 



L HE village of Wielitfka lies at the diftance of two leagues 

 to the fou th- weft of Cracow; it is fituated on the gentle de- 

 clivity of a cultivated mountain, and is very populous. Thefe 

 valuable mines were difcovered in the year J %k i> and fin ce 

 that time they have been conftantly worked; but it is only 

 fince the late changes effected in the political ftate of Poland 

 that the working of them has been carried on with the pre- 

 fcnt degree of fpirit. ; 



The defcent into thefe mines is through fquare pits, twenty 

 fathoms in depth and from twelve to fourteen in diameter, 

 cut through the pure fait, if we except a few fathoms of earth 

 by which they are covered. There are fix of them, of different 

 dimensions, diftant about a hundred feet from each other, 

 and which all communicate with each other internally. 



This defcent, which is attended with fome novelty, in 

 fome excites fear rather than curiofity. Thofe who vifit it 

 are feated in a fort of chair made of ropes, and ftrongly at- 

 tached to a thick rope, which pafies round a large wheel 

 moved by a horfe, and which is thus let down into the pit. 

 From two to ten pet foils may be feated around this rope, pro- 

 vided they hold very fafi with their hands ; but if they are 

 iubjeel to giddinefs, they mutt then be fecured by a girdle 

 which pafies round the. body. It is cuftomary before they 

 defcend to offer up a fliort prayer* which adds confiderably to 

 the awfulnefs of the preparation for the defcent; but the 

 efforts which each afterwards makes to conceal his terror on 

 viewing the vaft and obfeure pit, the extremities of which 

 they dare not confider, generally overcome every fenfation of 

 timidity, and the fix minutes employed in reaching the bot- 

 tom foon glide away amidft mirth and fecuiity. 



When you arrive at the depth of ten fathoms you find 

 yourfelf in frefh and agreeable air, and afterwards experience 

 only very flight modifications of the temperature till you 

 reach the bottom, the depth of which is twenty fathoms. 



On reaching the bottom of the pit^ a great number of the 

 workmen flock round you offering you their fervices ; and 

 you then find yourfelf in the centre of fix radii, each of which 

 forms an extenfive gallery. It is at this centre that fait dug 



4 Ftom the Journal Bri/awiiqus, published at Geneva by ProfeiTor 



Vol. X , T from 



Phil. Mag. No. 40, 



September 1801, 



