1 32 Cruise of the "Alert" 



some days previously gone on a trip to Buenos Ayres. The 

 people numbered about twenty altogether ; but as there were as 

 yet no customers to buy the coal, and as consequently no wages 

 had been paid for a long time back, the miners were gradually 

 deserting and making tracks for Sandy Point. 



The edge of the coal seam, which is now being worked, was 

 visible in the face of a low cliff on the north-west promontory 

 south of the bay of the mines. The outcrop of the seam is in a 

 north and south direction, and it dips to the south-east at an 

 angle of about 45. From a cursory examination which I made 

 of sections afforded by the cliffs adjoining the mines, I ascertained 

 that the coal was overlain by a bed of clayey sandstone, overlying 

 which was a stratum of hard limestone containing fossil shells, 

 among which large Ostroeas were the most conspicuous. Above 

 this, and lying conformably to it, was a layer of soft sandstone 

 containing numerous comminuted fragments of shells in a subfossil 

 state. The coal seam itself was about twelve feet thick. 



The mine seemed to be in a most efficient state. A pit, sunk 

 obliquely, descended to a depth of thirty-six feet, where it com- 

 municated with a horizontal cutting about sixty yards in length. 

 At the end of this gallery the coal was being worked, whence it 

 was conveyed in trolleys to the foot of the pit, and then hauled 

 up the incline by means of a stationary engine working at the 

 pit's mouth. From there a line of. tram rails extended about 

 150 yards to the end of a strong wooden mole, where the water 

 was deep enough to float heavy barges, and where a large pile 

 was stored under a shed, and ready for shipment. It was of 

 good black colour, but light and friable ; very much resembling 

 the Lota coal, to which it was little inferior in quality. A 

 sample was taken on board, and submitted to various practical 

 tests, by Mr. Dinwoodie, our chief engineer. It was of jet-black 

 colour, and glistening appearance ; leaving a faint black mark on 

 rubbing. S. G. = 1-3. It contained sulphur and iron, burned with 

 very little smoke, and produced a rust-coloured ash, which formed 



