on the Sail Mines at Cardona. 329 



• Such 13 the boldness of the smugglers and the jealousy of the 

 government, that it is dangerous to visit the mines without 

 formal leave from the intendente ; as the sentinels have orders 

 to fire on any one seen loitering about them. 



The workmen here receive considerable wages, and are all 

 free labourers ; each man receives daily twelve reals vellon, which 

 at the rate of exchange last vear equals three shillings sterling ; 

 lads are paid at the rate of eight reals, or two shillings ; and 

 boys receive six reals, or one shilling and sixpence*. The hours 

 for work are from six in the morning to seven in the evening 

 (in summer); with the intervals of half an hour, between eight 

 and nine o'clock A.M., for breakfast, and two hours, from twelve 

 to two, for dinner, and its usual sequel in Spain, tlie siesta. 



The produce of the mines is pulverized by grinding it in mills, 

 on the exact construction of our common water mills. This 

 operation reduces it into an excellent culinary salt of a snowy 

 whiteness. In this state it is sold to the peasantry of the sur- 

 rounding districts, at the rate of thirty reals vellon, or seven sh. 

 .six d. sterl per fanega of live arrobas of Catalonia, which equal 

 116 poinids avoirdupois. 



As there are no roads practicable for wheel carriages in this 

 part of Catalonia, the salt is carried from Cardona on mules or 

 asses ; the only beasts of burden that could travel in safety the 

 rugged defiles in which this district abounds. It seems a part 

 of the perver'<e policy of the Spanish government to discourage 

 the formation of proper roads, lest it should facilitate the opera- 

 tions of the snnigglcr. 



It would not be difficnlt to connect Cardona, by m?ans of a 

 canal, with the ocean ; and thus the valuable produce of its salt 

 mines miuht increase the revenues of the crown, and the trade 

 of Barcelona. The channels of the Cardonero and Lobregat 

 always contain a large body of water, and might easily be ren- 

 dered subservient to the purposes of inland navigation. Besides 

 augmenting the value of the mines of Cardona, such a plan, by 

 facilitating the intercourse with the interior of this fine province, 

 would stimulate the exertions of a peojjle who only require an 

 equitable government to become highly industrious. 



It yet remains that I offer a few remarks on the nature of the 

 country around Cardona, as materials for its geology. 



Its general appearance is mountainous. The mountains are 

 abrupt, but generally wooded. The valleys are narrow, and, 



• Tliis may he coiibidcrcd ns liberal w;ii;es where the necessaries of life, 

 with tlie exception of hreaci, are cheap; at Cardona, mutton and beef 

 cost one real veil, per twelve ounces. Bread of the best ((iiality costs one 

 real veil, per twelve ounces. Wine of the country (a very };uod red sort) 

 IS retailed at six quartos per botik\ or about two-pence sterling. 



where 



