20 PROC. COTTESWOLD CLUB vol. xili. 



fixed, and the same process is repeated right down the 

 flume. Side pieces (e, e, e) of l^in. board are then 

 nailed along the sides of the flume, resting on the blocks. 



It will, therefore, be seen that above the " riffle-sticks," 

 and between each rank of blocks, there is a cavity 

 3in. xio^in. Directly work commences, these fill 

 loosely with gravel, which the water keeps constantly in 

 motion, and as pieces of gold i)ass down, they are arrested 

 in the cavities and gradually gravitate to the bottom of 

 them. In a partial "clean-U[)" the contents of these 

 cavities are roughly scraped out, but a complete " clean 

 up " can only be made when the whole of the " riffle- 

 sticks " and blocks are taken up : they need taking up and 

 replacing about once a year. 



There is a strong bulkhead al)out lOO yards above the 

 tunnel, and from there the river is flumcd for the greater 

 part of the detour it makes round the rock through which 

 the tunnel passes. By means of suitable gates at the 

 bulkhead, the water can be sent at will either through the 

 tunnel or alon^ the flume of the detour. At the head of 

 the tunnel-flume, where it strikes bed-rock, a piece of 

 open-cut is left towards the bulkhead, with the bed-rock 

 exposed. On this some little gold collects and is easily 

 gathered. For this gathering of gold in placer-working a 

 set of simple tools is used. One (Fig. 5) is usually an 



Fig. 5. — The Scraper 



old file, one end ground to an edge and turned over and 

 downwards, the point end being also bent at about right 

 angles. With this tool the miner scrapes out all the 

 contents of the cavities, gathering them in the scoop 



