The Salt Mountains of Ischil. 229 



devices, he: some of the former were large and perfectly transpa- 

 rent, but a deep red or brown is the prevailing color. This mine 

 appeared to me to be richer than that of Ischil. In some parts the 

 salt forms regular sojid strata several feet in thickness, and so free 

 from foreign matter as to be fit for use without any purifying pro- 

 cess. In these places it is mined by the aid of gunpowder, and the 

 guides, after placing us in secure places, allowed us to witness two 

 or three explosions. Generally, however, the mine differs very lit- 

 tle from that of Ischil. We entered by a horizontal gallery, a quar- 

 ter of a mile in length, and then came to branching galleries, along 

 which pipes were conducted for filling the chambers with water, or 

 emptying them. One hundred and ninety men are employed, and 

 the yearly product, I was told, is eight thousand one hundred and 

 thirty-four tons. 



Annexed is a drawing of Montezuma's battle-axe. This axe was 

 preserved by the Spanish conquerors, and during the time of Charles 

 V. was deposited in a collection of curiosities at the royal palace of 

 Ambras near Inspruck. On the invasion by Bonaparte they were 

 all removed to Vienna, where they now form what is called the 

 Ambras samlung, and are worthy of particular attention. The axe 

 is of basalt, of a green color, with white spots, and bears a resem- 

 blance to many which I have seen in Ohio and the adjacent parts. 

 The handle is of hard wood, and about threy feet in length : at the 

 thicker end is a socket, into which the stone was let, and was then 

 secured in its place with twine. I saw also in the royal library, a 

 specimen of the Mexican picture, but these manuscripts I propose 

 to notice in a future communication. 



