322 



BOOK VIII. 



contains grains of it, are washed in frames or bowls ; the sands especially 

 are also washed in troughs. More than one method is employed for washing 

 on frames, for these frames either pass or retain the particles or concentrates 

 of gold ; they pass them if they have holes, and retain them if they have 

 no holes. But either the frame itself has holes, or a box is substituted for 

 it ; if the frame itself is perforated it passes the particles or concentrates 

 of gold into a trough ; if the box has them, it passes the gold material into 

 the long sluice. I will first speak of these two methods of washing. The 

 frame is made of two planks joined together, and is twelve feet long and 

 three feet wide, and is full of holes large enough for a pea to pass. To prevent 

 the ore or sand with which the gold is mixed from falling out at the sides, 

 small projecting edge-boards are fixed to it. This frame is set upon two 

 stools, the first of which is higher than the second, in order that the gravel 

 and small stones can roll down it. The washer throws the ore or sand into 

 the head of the frame, which is higher, and opening the small launder, lets 

 the water into it, and then agitates it with a wooden scrubber. In this way, 

 the gravel and small stones roll down the frame on to the ground, while the 





A HEAD OF FRAME. B FRAME. C HOLES. D EDGE-BOARDS. E STOOLS 

 F SCRUBBER. G TROUGH. H LAUNDER. I BOWL. 



