i;S SALT PANS OF THE COAST REGION. 



gradually increase to the size of a threepenny bit; as this increases 

 in weight the slightest disturbance precipitates it to the bottom, 

 where salt crystals are formed. This goes on until a floor of salt 

 is formed under the brine. 



Salt forming and precipitation goes on quickest in three to 

 four inches: the water then reaches a greater degree of warmth 

 than it would at a depth of. say. seven or eight inches. In an 

 atmosphere of about ioo° Fahr. to 114°. which it sometimes is, 

 evaporation is so rapid that artificial concentration of the brine 

 is unnecessary, as the density increases to 44 Twaddle (S.G. 

 1.220). This precipitation of salt flakes forms on the floor of 

 clay crystals of salt to a thickness of half an inch to three inches. 

 This is what is called the Blad (leaf). When this blad is three- 

 quarters to one inch thick it is considered sufficiently strong to 

 bear the weight of a man without cracking; any cracks would 

 allow the mud and sand to come through and discolour the salt 

 while making. 



The blad or leaf that has formed is on the surface covered 

 with sharp pointed salt crystals and somewhat painful for un- 

 accustomed feet to walk upon. When the blad is sufficiently hard 

 men are sent in the pan with spades or blind rakes, with straight 

 iron edges, and with these they work off the crystals until the 

 blad is smooth. The backward and forward movement with 

 pressure on the spades sets up an agitation, and in addition to 

 the crystals scraped off the blad further salt is precipitated. The 

 crystals that are scraped off the blad are of various sizes, from 

 coarse to fine. 



When the worker has scraped together sufficient salt he 

 commences to wash it in the surface brine; this frees the salt 

 from dirt and sand and leaves it of a beautiful bluish white colour. 

 The salt is then placed on the bank of the pan and the mother 

 liquid or bittern allowed to drain off. It is then carted to the 

 stores for drying and, when necessary, grading purposes. 



The Zwartkops pan when not visited by exceptionally rainy 

 seasons shews exceedingly good results when one considers that 

 the actual working days in a season rarely exceed fifty-two to 

 sixty. Their production is anything from 20.000 to 40,000 bags 

 ( e ich bag weighing 200 lbs.) per season. The season commences 

 about the end of November and ends early in April. A glance 

 at the rain-fall table for this district for these months shews that 

 52 days is all the time during which it is possible to work ; after 

 9 fall of about two inches of rain work is stopped for some days. 

 It is. not possible to work the whole of the pan area, so if we 

 take an average yield of 30 lbs. per square yard of workable area 

 we are verv near the mark. 



The Zwartkops pan is about 30 feet and the Bethelsdorp 

 about six feet above sea level. The salt from the first-named is 

 of an opaque crystal, and that from the latter pan of a chalky 

 white crystal ; the two salts can always be distinguished apart. 



The same primitive methods of producing salt are in vogue 

 as some thirtv vears ago. For the last five years the vield at 



