THE COPPER ElELD OE N AM AyUALANI). J5I 



Directors at home. In order that the Commander might get 

 better knowledge of the Copper Mountains, we eventually reached 

 them after much trouble and delay. The Commander, with 

 great zeal, and taking advantage of all the circumstances, in- 

 vestigated closely a part of the region, and choosing the best 

 places, we began to work on the spot for the search for minerals, 

 especially at a certain spot named by the Commander H.V.R.. 

 where in working we found co]>per ore with pure metal dis- 

 seminated through it. At this place we sunk to a depth of three 

 fathoms, finding better ore the deeper we went, holding the 

 same minerals and real silver so far as tests could be made, 

 so that, in my opinion, it is certain and obvious that the deeper 

 one goes the richer and richer the minerals will be, the more 

 so because the fact is beyond all dispute that the minerals first 

 found were not perfect, but the deeper they lay, the harder, more 

 compact, and richer they were found to be. A gunshot to one 

 .<-ide of this mine the Commander had further work done by my 

 advice, and here a new trial a fathom and a half deep was 

 made ; we found that the S'ix>t was a favourable one, and from 

 it were produced copper and silver of the same kind as described 

 above, yet it was richer in mineral and metal, as appeared from 

 the tests; this ])lace was designated S.M. by the Commander. 

 According to the trials made, this place is of such promising 

 appearance that no other opinion can be held than that in work- 

 ing there the deeper one were to sink, not alone very good min- 

 erals, but probably pure massive copper, would be (obtained, the 

 more so since the work has ])r()gressed more and more favour- 

 ably from its commencement. 



Again, at one or two gunshots' distance on the other side 

 of the said mine, the Commander had a third trial made, and 

 there found a mine holding minerals of the same kind as before, 

 and after sinking three ells, we noticed the same good indications 

 as in the two above-mentioned places, according to the trend 

 of the evidence got there ; this last spot was indicated by the 

 name S.V.S. I am entirely convinced of the favourable charac- 

 ter of these mines ; in the event of mining operations being con- 

 tinued, richer and richer, and better, minerals will be found, for 

 the hills concerned extend several miles in length and breadth, 

 and hold minerals almo.'^t everywhere, and in some places water 

 for man and beast is plentiful, as the Commander found on 

 personal inspection. 



Further, salt and sulphur are distributed through the whole 

 region, a certain indication that it is rich in minerals; and it is 

 also firmly settled, on the evidence of all expert mining- men, 

 that all minerals are regenerated and coagulated from the afore- 

 said salt and sulphur by means of natural heat. Further, it 

 cannot be that here at the Cape of Good Hope there are no 

 mines of interest in the arts and sciences. 



T declare the above to be my report and experience, at the 

 Castle of the Cape of Good Hope, this i8th day of March. 

 i6c%. 



Friederich Mathias van Werlinckhof. 



