212 ANCIENT GOLD MINING IN THE SUDAN 



measure handed to them is completely reduced. And to every one of those who bear this 

 lot death is preferable to life. 

 The Seiangeus " Others, called Selangeus (workers at the table or Serangex) take from the women the 



powder thus produced. These are the artificers in whom lies the power of carrying to the 

 end this work of royal utility. They pour the stone already milled on a table rather broad 

 and polished with a smooth surface, which, however, does not lie flat but has a slight 

 inclination. On this table they rub with their hands the dust mixed with water, first 

 lightly and then with greater pressure. 



" By this means the earthy particles are dissolved and flow down the slope of the table, 

 but that which is heavy and worth anything remains on the wood. And when the 

 Selangeus has frequently rinsed the matter out with water, he handles the dust lightly with 

 soft thick sponges, and pressing lightly from time to time he absorbs from the table and 

 throws away that which is soft and light, entangled in the web of the sponge. 



" There remains to the Selangeus separated on the table that which is heavy and shines, 

 and whicli on account of its weight is not easily movable. This he transmits to the cooks, 

 who, immediately they receive it by weight, put it into a clay pot, and, in proportion to its 

 quantity, they add a lump of lead, some grains of salt, a little alloy of silver and lead, and 

 barley bran. 



" The pot's mouth being carefully covered and luted round, they cook it five days and 

 five nights consecutively. On the following day, when the burnt materials are cooled, they 

 pour them into another vase. They find none of the things which were jDut in together, 

 but only a mass of molten gold, little less by weight than the original matter." 



The process was somewhat rough, and it is not surprising, therefore, that a good deal 

 of the gold obtained by means of it was anything but pure, indeed, the inscriptions 

 distinguish between gold ore, " gold of the balance," or marketable gold, " best gold," 

 " gold of the second quality " and " white gold." White gold was really electrum, an alloy 

 of gold and silver, of which considerable use was made. 



Dr. Beam has recently assayed some gold prepared by the ancient metallurgists and 

 finds it be 22'3 carats fine gold ; this is remarkably pure, considering the method, so far as 

 we know it, employed. 

 Modern Modern investigation at the old mines of the Sudan bears out the above description 



substantially, but some slight alterations and further details are to be noted. 



The old workings rarely reach a depth of 150 feet, and the workers seem to have 

 preferred veins varying in thickness from a foot to three feet, a vein much thicker than this 

 being rarely taken away in entirety, but followed along one or both sides. This custom 

 was probably for the sake of safety, and in order to facilitate movement within the mine, 

 for numerous footholds in the walls point to this as being the only means of egress ; 

 and in the absence of all large timber, ladders were probably unknown. Crude stairways 

 were sometimes built of large stones, especially at the entrances to the workings. Here 

 and there, where the sides are weak, "hitches" have been cut for timber props, and 

 some of these remain to-day in an excellent state of preservation. The timber is a 

 species of acacia which is very common in the desert wadies, although of stunted growth. 

 Tool marks are found in great numbers in the sides of the workings, and appear to have 

 been produced by a pointed iron tool impelled by some form of hammer. 



Only in one instance, at the Nabi Mines, has any indication been found of the 

 means of illumination ; this consists of a portion of a broken lamp which, except for 

 the fact that it had no handle, resembles the Eoman lamp of to-day. Had these lamps 

 been in general use in the mines, it is reasonable to suppose that a fairly large number 



investigation 



