Notices of Coal in China. 237 
The “ wood coal” is generally reduced to powder, and formed 
into cakes with mud, and employed in furnaces for culinary pur- 
poses, and in chafing dishes for warming public offices. It is 
used to some extent by blacksmiths. Coal cakes are much used 
at Hangchau, in the liquor shops, in order to keep warm rice- 
whiskey on hand at all hours of the day ; and in the tea shops, 
where boiling water is in constant requisition. The furnaces are 
certainly primitive, consisting of a few bricks making a close 
square or circular chamber, generally about four inches in diam- 
eter with a small grate below, and inclosed above. When the 
cakes are perfectly ignited by a few chips, and the smoke ceases 
to rise, the top is covered with mud, through which, before dry- 
ing, an orifice.is pierced half an inch in diameter. The vesse 
containing whiskey is then placed over the hole, and is thus kept 
ot all day without further care, at a cost of a cent and a half. 
The same rude apparatus, with slight modifications, is in general 
use wherever coal from its proximity is not expensive. Some- 
times the brickwork is inclosed in boards, elaborately carved and 
varnished. Were grates or fire-places constructed with suitable 
ues and chimneys, coal would be found a more useful article, be 
i great demand, and the mines consequently be better worked. 
Even the miners find it more convenient and cheaper to burn the 
shrubs and grass of their sterile hills than the coal they dig from 
their bowels. 
ehkia , ton 
Kiangsi, - * - - - - 160,000 * 
SS si aan era ier 1 
Northern Provinces, - - - - 280,000 
Kwangtung and Western Provinces, - 100,000 “ 
0,000 
: 5 : eae : 
miner could doubtless bring to light inexhaustible supplies of this 
SUDterranean treasure. 
