1820.] the Lead Mines of Sardinia. 363 



X)f barytes, calcareous spar, or quartz ; and in the district called 

 Cape of Cagliari, we can travel but a very short distance with- 

 out crossing" in our path many of these veins, the most of which 

 bear a good rib of ore to this day. Their positions evidently 

 indicate that they must form numerous intersections, and would 

 afford profit if wrought with any tolerable degree of skill. 



The mines at Iglesias are at present wrought by the Sardinian 

 government: in the course of 80 fathoms, 11 different veins 

 have been discovered, and the whole of these have afibrded a 

 large quantity of excellent ore in the course of the few partial 

 trials which have been made. 



The ravines which intersect Sardinia in all directions preclude 

 the necessity which so often exists in England of spending years 

 in dead ground, where the only profit to be expected is that of 

 rendering the adjoining veins accessible, and where so great an 

 outlay of money generally takes place. Wood can also in Sar- 

 dinia generally be procured close to the mines free of expense ; 

 and these advantages are only in some degree counterbalanced 

 by the unfavourable climate, the scarcity of water for washing 

 the ore, and the barbarous state of the inhabitants of the 

 countiy. 



In driving the main level of the lead mine at Iglesias, so soon 

 as a vein had been found, the plan had been to proceed imme- 

 diately to excavate ; and so long as some particular danger or 

 inconvenience had not impeded the labour it had been continued. 

 As the sides of the vein, however, were, in general, left 

 untouched, this could not long continue ; and when once aban- 

 doned, a new vein had been begun upon, and treated in the 

 same manner. The irregularity of these workings is of course 

 such as to preclude the possibility of making an instrumental 

 survey of them. A written description, and a sketch of the 

 mine Domenico Rosea near Iglesias is, however, annexed, 

 which it is hoped will convey a tolerable idea of the workings. 



When the position of the veins in this mine, and their proxi- 

 mity to each other, are considered, doubts cannot be entertained 

 as to their forming many intersections, and thus affording the 

 most favourable prospect to the miner. There is also a stream 

 of water near the mine, and a convenient situation for a smelting 

 house. 



The mine of Monte D'Oro, near Iglesias, is also one of the 

 most extensive and ancient in the island. Here is, perhaps, the 

 best example of the mines having been used as a permanent 

 residence : the entrance has been faced or built with finely cut 

 stone, and within the mine, shafts or sinkings lead from one set 

 of subterraneous sjalleries to those below. The workiiiQ-s are so 

 intricate and extensive that the guides are obliged to place small 

 sticks in the path by which they conduct the strangers to enall* 

 them to return in security. May not these have served for the 

 4welling>5 of the exiled Romans when Sardinia was a place of 



