2o8 TRAVELS THROUGH 



Ametis geographical map places hereabout anti- 

 monial mines, which I have been allured to be 

 fictitious. I got at Chita Vecchia fome minerals 

 of thefe parts ; con fitting of yellow copper-pyrites 

 with green fluor, blende, blue azure-copper-ore, 

 and malachites in argillaceous flate. 



The alum-hills, N 7. are very high fhining 

 white rocks, feparated by a long valley and large 

 excavations, which are made in the following 

 manner : The workmen delcend by ropes to the 

 fleep rocks; thus fufpended, they bore blafting- 

 holes, fill them with cartridges, free the rocks 

 which by former blafiings are loofened, and then 

 are pulled up again. The firing of the powder is 

 done by dry branches and leaves, which expe- 

 rience has taught them to throw from on high to 

 any place below. 



The alum-rock is white-grey or chalk-white; 

 extremely compact and remarkably hard. Scraped 

 with a knife it yields an argillaceous powder, which 

 does not ferment with any acid, fince penetrated 

 by the vitriolic acid, and being compofcd of an 

 argillaceous fubftance. There are fome blueim- 

 grey fhivery pieces, which are rejected as unfit, 

 and probably are remains of the natural argilla- 

 ceous ftqne before it was fufficiently imbibed and 

 whitened by the vitriolic acid* In fome cracks 

 appears a chalk-white ductile clay. Some pieces 

 2 are 



