Mr. Dunn on the Edge Seams of Mid-Lothian. 169 



outmatched, a stone mine was driven out towards the full rise, and cut 

 the Coal at 80 yards distance, 



The principal Coal Shaft 10 yards apart from the engine pit was 

 stopped at 88 fathoms, and a similar stone mine 100 yards long also run 

 out to the Coal, and from which point Rail-way passages are driven 

 water-level-wise right and left. 



Baa. Way Dr^t 



. Kail Way 1 



il»|IIWi'lllllH|lllilliiUinii iniMii 



Water Course Drift 



. I » II I lilli tlllii n Till illllil 1» Ill — 



The Coal is about 5 feet thick, and as it lies at an angle of 40° with 

 the horizon, it is quite impracticable to use wheel carriages in the 

 conveyance of the Coals either from the rise or the dip, they are there- 

 fore borne upon the backs of women and girls from all the working 

 places apart from the main water levels. 



The women, who carry full loads, provide themselves with wicker 

 creels, which are fitted to the back, and steadied by a leathern strap 

 passing round the forehead ; the smaller boys and girls carry single 

 blocks of Coal proportioned to their strength and expertness ; the regu- 

 lar load of a good bearer in the Edge Seams, is from 12 to 14 stones, 

 and in the Flat Coals from 16 to 20 stones. 



The bearers find their own lights and creels, and are hired at from 

 lOd. to \4id. per day, by such of the hewers as are not fortunate 

 enough to possess wife, sister, or daughter, the necessity of which tends 

 to constant and early intermarriages amongst each other, and is attended 

 with utter want of domestic comfort. 



The difference of the labour in bearing up or bearing down is by no 

 means so great as might be expected, for after being a while accustomed 

 they are unwilling to change from one to the other. 



In order to enable the bearers to traverse these steeps, small steps or 



