70 Mp:n, Mines, and Animals in South Africa. 



but with a slow heat in order not to smelt them), 

 are placed in a vessel upon a filter composed of 

 jDOwdered quartz and glass. The chlorine gas is 

 produced in another vessel by combining man- 

 ganese and hydrochloric acid. It is then passed 

 through water in order to get rid of the hydro- 

 chloric acid, and it is then jDassed through sul- 

 phuric acid in order to get rid of the water which 

 it may have taken up. It finally penetrates 

 through the filter descril)ed above, to the pp'ites 

 in the condition of pure chlorine gas. In a fcAv 

 hours the chlorine combines with the gold in the 

 pyrites, and becomes chloride of gold. This 

 chloride then treated with sulphate of iron, the 

 gold is innnediately precipitated in the shape of 

 a black powder I'eadv for smelting. The pi'ocess 

 when conducted and viewed in a laboratory is 

 very l)eautiful and Avonderful. Other mines 

 claiming attention, and either now or in process of 

 becoming valuable properties, are the '' Simmer 

 and Jack,' the " Jumpers," and the " Salisbury," 

 all of which I have had the opportunity of in- 

 specting. Speaking generally about this gold- 

 field, it may be remarked : (1) The ore, when first 

 discovered near the surface, was free-milling ore, 

 easily treated, and yielding in places from tM'o or 

 three up to as much as eight ounces to the ton. 

 Small batteries originallv produced striking- 

 results, the managers being able to pick and 

 choose those parts of the reef where the ore was 

 richest. Since that time larger stamp batteries 

 have been everywhere erected, the easily-treated 



