VOL. V.J PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 46^ 



A Relation concerning the Sal-Gem Mines in Poland. N''6\,p. 1099. 



The mines of Sal-Gem in Poland are a mile distant from Cracovia, near 

 the small town of Wilizka, which, the church excepted, is altogether one 

 hollow under ground. There are four descents or holes, each four or five feet 

 long, and as broad, lined downwards through with timber. Above is a great 

 wheel, with a strong rope, of the thickness of a lusty arm, drawn about by a 

 horse, as in a horse-mill. 



They first descend perpendicularly by a rope to the depth of 100 fathoms. 

 They afterwards come to certain ladders, by which they go down 100 fathoms 

 deeper, where there are double passages and holes, one above another, in abun- 

 dance ; for the mine-men dig on still, and cut out every where and on all sides 

 as long as the salt vein lasts and salt is found; but the vein being lost, and no 

 more salt appearing in one place, they search for other salt veins, whence come 

 so many holes and passages out of one into another. The great holes, to se- 

 cure both the town above and the work below from falling in, are very care- 

 fully filled out and supported by strong and well-compacted timber, of which 

 there is enough in those works to build a large town with. 



Out of these mines they dig and cut three sorts of salt; one is common, 

 coarse, and black ; the second somewhat finer and whiter ; the third very white 

 and clear, like crystal. The coarse and black salt is cut out in large pieces, 

 roundish, and three Polonian ells long, and one ell thick, which costs fifty to 

 seventy Polonian florins. The great pieces lie at Cracow about the streets, be- 

 fore the doors of the citizens; as also in the country, in the small towns and 

 villages, and before the forts and houses of the nobility ; where the cattle pass- 

 ing to and fro, lick of those salt stones ; which after\vards by mills and other 

 engines are ground and beaten small for use. 



The colour of these salt stones is darkish grey, with some mixture of yellow. 

 The instruments with which they are dug and cut out, have almost all Ger- 

 man names with Polonian terminations; for when this salt work w^as first found, 

 which is now above four hundred years ago, the mine-men that first began to 

 work in it were Germans; whence the Poles have retained those names of the 

 tools, but given them Polish terminations. 



These salt works belong to the king of Poland, who appoints and maintains 

 the officers of them ; and it is one of his best royal revenues, amounting to con- 

 siderable sums of money. There is no less than a thousand men that are con- 

 stantly employed in these mines, and there was then a provision of salt valued 

 at two millions. 



There are in these works three horses, that stay always below, having their 



