92 TEE NATURALIST IN NICARAGUA. [Ch. VI. 



higher than the first. This process is continued until 

 the lode lying ahove the lowest level has been divided 

 off into horizontal bands, each about sixty feet in depth. 

 The quartz is then excavated above the topmost level, 

 and thrown down the shafts to the lowest, where it is 

 received into waggons and conveyed to the reduction 

 works. As both the ore and the enclosing rocks are 

 greatly decomposed and very soft, the whole of the 

 ground has to be securely timbered as the work proceeds. 

 The levels are timbered with "nispera," a wood of great 

 durability and strength, but the excavated portions 

 between them are only temporarily secured with 

 common soft wood, and at the end of every fortnight 

 filled up with clay and barren rock. The mining is 

 entirely executed by native workmen, principally 



to Sizms 



SECTION OP GOLD MINE. 



Diagram stowing method of excavating ore at Saato Domingo Mines. 



A, Levels ; B, Rise, down which the ore is thrown ; D, Stopes ; C, Stopes 

 refilled with clay and ban-en rock. 



Mestizos from the border lands of Honduras and Nica- 

 ragua, where they have been engaged in silver mining. 

 They are paid according to the amount of ground exca- 

 vated, and are very industrious when poor ; but when 

 they accumulate a little money, they take fits of idleness 

 and dissipation until it is spent again. 



