204 DR. R. WILSON ON THE COAL MINERS 
that to be hewn is divided into lots; they draw their lots once a 
quarter, this is called “ kyeveling,” and the place or lot assigned 
to each man is called his “kyevel.” The hewers are divided into 
‘‘fore-shift’? men and “back-shift’? men. The former work from 
one till nine, and the latter from nine till five. Each man works 
one week in the fore-shift and one week in the back-shift, 
alternately. Every man in the fore-shift marks 1 on his door 
—this is the sign for the caller to wake him at that hour. 
When roused by the caller, he gets up and dresses in his pit 
clothes, consisting of a loose jacket, vest, and knickerbockers, 
all made of thick white flannel; long stockings, strong shoes, 
and a close-fitting, thick leather cap. He then takes a piece of 
bread and water, or a cup of coffee, but never a full meal—many 
prefer to go to work fasting. With a tin bottle full of cold 
water or tea, a piece of bread, which is called his ‘ bait,” his 
Davy lamp, and ‘‘baccy box,” he says good bye to his wife, and 
speeds off to work. Placing himself in the cage, he is lowered ~ 
to the bottom of the shaft, where he lights his lamp and proceeds 
‘“‘in by,” to a place appointed, to meet the deputy. The deputy 
examines each man’s lamp, and if found safe, returns it locked 
to the owner. Hach man then finding from the deputy that his 
place is right, proceeds onwards to his kyevel—his picks in one 
hand, and his lamp in the other. He travels thus a distance 
varying from one to six hundred yards, the height of the roof 
being from three feet six inches to four feet. To progress in 
this space the feet are kept wide apart, the body is bent at right 
angles with the hips, the head is held well down, and the face is 
turned forward. Arrived at his place, he undresses, and begins 
by hewing out about fifteen inches of the lower part of the coal; 
he thus undermines it, and the process is called “kirving;” the 
same is done up the sides, this is called “nicking.” The process 
of kirving is conducted as follows:—The hewer sits on a low 
stool (four inches in height), and grasping his pick with both 
hands, makes successive horizontal blows. To give the greatest 
effect to the stroke his head is thrown to one side, his left leg 
extended and his right bent, his right elbow resting on the right 
thigh enables the leg to augment the force of the arms. The 
