1820.] the Lead Mines of Sardinia. 365 



At La Miza di li Ano Marudu is a vein of iron ore, of a fathom 

 thickness ; some lead ore is mixed with it, and it bears 65° S.E. 



A vein of calcareous spar containing copper ore about three 

 feet wide, and bearing nearly north and south, occurs at Mar- 

 casita. The sides of this vein are coated with a yellow mineral 

 earth. 



The veins of St. Lucia and Johnny Longa in this neighbour- 

 hood are also very promising. The latter bears 83° N.E. 



The village of Flumini Majore, near which the whole of the 

 last mentioned veins are situated, is well supplied with wood 

 and water ; the roads for some distance around it are, however, 

 bad ; and, during the summer, the air is unwholesome, as the 

 mountain streams in its vicinity are at that season nearly dried 

 up, and form stagnant and noxious air in the plain surrounding 

 the village. This small village, the houses of which are built of 

 clay, is situated in a plain of about three miles in length, and one 

 in breadth. High and rugged mountains surround it on all 

 sides ; the inhabitants are either goat-herds, or earn their sub- 

 sistence by cultivating the little valley in which they dwell. 

 They are about 1000 in number, and although poor, they seem 

 tolerably contented and happy. 



Between Flumini Majore and Monte Vecchio, and distant 

 about four miles from the latter place, after ascending a steep 

 acclivity situated across the head of a valley, a vein of flesh- 

 coloured barytes is crossed by the road, and near it are seen 

 other veins which seem to have at some period been tried. 



At Monte Vecchio, there is a vein of flesh-coloured barytes, 

 which promises well, and which is at present wrought by a 

 Signore Malacria, and a Neapolitan merchant, who pay a duty 

 of one-twelfth per cent, to the government for their privilege. 

 The mining here is conducted in the same imskilfid way as at 

 Iglesias, the vein is simply followed till water flows in upon 

 them, and here their labour has been abandoned for this reason, 

 with a rib of ore a yard wide extending before them. 



This is one of the most ancient mines, and is supposed to have 

 been a very profitable one. The present company at first drove 

 a flank level to the vein, but as it ran downwards, they changed 

 their plan, and adopted that of working by sinkings, which the 

 flowing of the water also compelled them to relmquish. By 

 beginning their level at the bottom of the hill all this inconve- 

 nience might have been avoided. The point of the vein is due 

 east and west ; it declines about two feet in six, and the stratum 

 is limestone similar to that of Iglesias. 



At Monte Carna there is a promising vein of white barytes in 

 a stratum of limestone. 



At Maishtalesch near Pula, about 10 miles south-west of 

 Cagliari, there is a vein in a ravine through which flows a small 

 brook, in which a rib of solid ore about five inches wide may be 

 seen. It is in the limestone stratum, and bears 32° S.E. 



