M. Kovanko’s General View of the Environs of Pekin. 255 
mulates in the mines is emptied by means of small casks, 
brought up in the same manner. 
If the local circumstances are very favourable, adits for 
letting out the water are driven ; but as they are very expen-. 
sive, they are very seldom had recourse to ; at least if the ir- 
ruption of the water becomes too considerable, it often hap- 
pens that the works are altogether abandoned. 
The only instruments used by the Chinese in working the 
coal are the pickaxe, the pick, and the hammer. They cut a 
groove with the pickaxe, and place in it the pick, which is 
struck upon with the hammer ; it is by this means that frag- 
ments of coal, weighing from two to three pouds, are de- 
tached. . 
The number of workmen differs much in the Chinese col- 
lieries, for few among them make their agreement for a work 
of any long duration; for the most part they never come un- 
til the period when they have finished their labour in the 
fields. The pickers of coal receive about 13 rouble for half 
a-day’s work, and the overseers for the day about 33 roubles, 
and their nourishment besides. 
At the place where it is worked, at Lao-Gao-Shan, the coal 
is sold for 60 copecks per poud: its carriage through the 
mountains on the backs of mules to Mem-Toou-Goou, distant 
30 li, where are situated the store-houses of the depot, costs 
about 20 copecks ; from thence the coal is transported to Pe- 
kin upon camels. In the city the price of coals is 1} rouble 
per poud. 
There is besides a kind of coal met with at Pekin, brought 
from the neighbourhood, which is much cheaper, particularly 
when it is mixed in the proportion of one-half with coal-gra- 
vel (or detritus). This coal sells for only 1 rouble per poud, 
but it gives out but little heat, and is very quickly consumed. 
The coal-gravel in question is previously mixed with yellow 
clay, to give it greater consistence. The process is very 
simple; eight parts of coal-gravel are mixed with two of clay 
pouring into the mixture as much water as is required to ren- 
der it a thick paste. When the whole of the mass has been 
well mixed, it is put into moulds, in the same manner as in 
