388] 
its channel. down to the surface of 
the rock, and between six and 
seven feet wide, but in times of 
floods exiended itself entirely over 
the valley. 
Researches have been made for 
the goid, amidst the sand and gra- 
vel along the run of the brook, 
for near half a mile in length; but 
it is only about one hundred and 
fifty yards above, and about two 
hundred yards below the ford, that 
the trials have been attended with 
much success : within that space the 
valley is tolerably level, and the 
banks of the brook have not more 
than five feet of sand and gravel 
above the rock ; added to this, it 
takes a small turn to the south- 
ward, and, consequenily, the rude 
surfaces of the schistus rock in some 
degree cross its course, and form 
natural impediments to the par- 
ticles of gold being carried fur- 
ther down the stream, which still 
lower has amore rapid descent ; be- 
sides, the rude manner in which the 
country people worked, seldom ena- 
bled them to penetrate to the rock, 
in those places where the sand and | 
gravel were of any material depth. 
Their method was, to turn the 
course of the water wherever they 
deemed necessary, and then, with 
any instruments they could pro- 
cure, to dig holes down to the 
rock, and by washing, in bowls 
ami hingen: the sand and gravel they 
threw out, to separate the parti- 
cles of gold which it contained ; 
and from the slovenly and hasty 
way in which their operations were,. 
rformed, much go!ld most pro- 
bably escaped their search; and 
that indeed actually appears -to 
have been the case, for since the 
late rains washed the clay and gra. 
vel which had beco thrown UP, 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1796. 
gold has been found lying on the 
surface, The situation of the place, 
and the constant command of wa- 
ter, do, however, very clearly point 
out the great facility with which 
the gold might be separated from 
the trash, by adopting the mode of 
working. practised at the best ma-’ 
naged tin stream works in the 
county of Cornwall; that is, en- 
tirely to remove (by machinery} 
the whole coyer off the rock, and 
then wash it in proper buddles and. ° 
sieves. And by thus continuing 
the operations, constantly advanc.- 
ing in the ravine towards the 
mountain, as long as gold should 
be found, the vein that forms its 
matrix might probably be laid 
bare. 
The discovery was made public, 
and the workings began, early in 
the month of September last, . and 
continued till the 15th of O€tober, 
when a parzy of the Kildare mili- 
tia arrived, and took,. possession 
by ordec of government ; .and the 
great concourse of people, who 
were busiiy cngazed in endeavour. 
ing to procure a share of the trea- 
sure, emai id desisted from 
their | labour, and peaceably retired. 
Calculations. have been’ made, 
that during the foregoing period, 
gold to the amount cf three thou. 
sand pounds Irish sterling was sold 
to. various persons; the average 
price was three pounds fiftcen shil- 
lings per ounce; hence eight hun. 
dred ounces appear to have been 
he 
collected within the short pace of | 
six weeks. 
The gold is of abright yellow © 
perfectly malleable; the 
colour, 
specific gravity of an apparently 
clean piece 19,000. A specimen, 
assayed here by. Mr. Weaver, in 
the moist way, produced from 24 
grains, 
