MINING OPEKATIONS. 



169 



GOLD-WASHING. 



load of earth upon his shoulders. It is in thi 

 ^^ay that most of the rubbish is extracted 

 horn these mineS) as windlasses or machinery 

 of any kind are rarely used. 



The Avmter season is generally preferred by 

 the miners, for the facihties it affords of sup- 

 plying- the gold-washers Avith water in the ini- 

 niediate neighborhood of then operations; 

 lor the great scarcity of water about the min- 

 ing regions is a very serious obstacle at other 

 seasons to successful enterprise. Water in 

 winter is obtained by melting a quantity of 

 ^ow thrown into a sink, with heated stones. 

 Ahose employed as washers are very fre- 

 quently the wives and children of the mmers, 

 4 round wooden bowl called haiea, about 

 eighteen inches in diameter, is the washing 



15 



