VOL. LXXXVI.] VHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 681 



occurs, imbedded in the blue schistus. In this mass of matter, before the work- 

 ings began, the brook had formed its channel down to the surface of the rock, 

 and between 6 and 7 feet wide, but in times of floods extended itself entirely 

 over the valley. 



Researches have been made for the gold, among the sand and gravel along the 

 run of the brook, for near half a mile in length; but it is only about 150 yards 

 above, and about 200 yards below the ford, that the trials have been attended 

 with much success; within that space, the valley is tolerably level, and the banks 

 of the brook have not more than 5 feet of sand and gravel above the rock; added 

 to this, it takes a small turn to the southward, and consequently the rude sur- 

 faces of the schistus rock in some degree cross its course, and form natural im- 

 pediments to the particles of gold being carried farther down the stream, which 

 still lower has a more rapid descent; besides, the rude manner in which the 

 country people worked, seldom enabled them to penetrate to the rock, in those 

 places where the sand and gravel were of any material depth. Their method was, 

 to turn the course of the water wherever they deemed necessary, and then, with 

 any instruments they could procure, to dig holes down to the rock, and by wash- 

 ing, in bowls and sieves, the sand and gravel they threw out, to separate the 

 particles of gold which it contained; and from the slovenly and hasty way in 

 which their operations were performed, much gold most probably escaped their 

 search; and that indeed actually appears to have been the case, for since the late 

 rains washed the clay and gravel which had been thrown up, gold has been found 

 lying on the surface. The situation of the place, and the constant command of 

 water, do however very clearly point out the great facility with which the gold 

 might be separated from the trash, by adopting the mode of working practised 

 at the best managed tin stream works in the county of Cornwall; that is, en- 

 tirely to remove, by machinery, the whole cover off the rock, and then wash it 

 in proper buddies and sieves. And by thus continuing the operations, constantly 

 advancing in the ravine towards the mountain, as long as gold should be found, 

 the vein that forms its matrix might probably be laid bare. 



The discovery was made public, and the workings began, early in the month 

 of September last, and continued till the 15th of October, when a party of the 

 Kildare militia arrived, and took possession by order of government; and the 

 great concourse of people, who were busily engaged in endeavouring to procure 

 a share of the treasure, immediately desisted from their labour, and peaceably 

 retired. Calculations have been made, that during the foregoing period, gold 

 to the amount of 3000/. Irish sterling was sold to various persons; the average 

 price was 3/. I5,s. per ounce; hence 800 oz. appear to have been collected within 

 the short space of 6 weeks. 



The gold is of a bright yellow colour, perfectly malleable; the specific gravity 



VOL. XVII. 4 S 



