ECONOMIC GEOLOGY. 65 



where near the village, from six to eight fathoms under ground, imbed- 

 ded in a lithomarge, the discovery of which is a sure sign of being 

 near a bed of iron-stone. 



" These iron-stones lie in beds of a small extent, of irregular thick- 

 ness, and various in their breadth from side to side, though this is never 

 very great. 



" They at first mine downwards in a perpendicular dirrction, till they 

 are obliged by the different directions of the beds to alter their course 

 accordingly. The breadth of their perpendicular shaft amounts to about 

 2 5 cubits, and small steps are cut out in the sides for the convenience 

 of descending. When they have exhausted a bed of iron-stone, they 

 abandon their mine without any further trial, and dig another in a 

 different direction. This negligent mode of proceeding puts them to 

 many inconveniences, and produces much unnecessary trouble, by oblig- 

 ing them to dig holes almost every six yards, which they fill up again 

 when the iron-stone is exhausted. 



" The ground in this place, and the ore itself, being of a very soft 

 nature, no other instruments are required for working their mines than 

 a pointed pickaxe. The ore and extraneous stones are drawn up in 

 baskets; the latter (consisting chiefly of clay) is separated, and the 

 former broken by mallets to the size of a hazelnut. 



"" This ore has much the appearance of a yellow and brown ochery 

 clay. It appears also to contain a mixture, or rather coating, of calca- 

 reous earth. When reduced to powder, it acquires a red colour, and ex- 

 hibits many sparkling particles. 



" The miners prepare the charcoal which they require for smelting 

 this ore, by burning the wood of the Sandra sh'etcu (Mimosa sandra), 

 which furnishes a solid, good charcoal ; but as it is rather scarce in 

 the vicinity of this village, and as a conveyance of 24 or 30 miles, 

 the nearest place where it may be had in abundance, is very ex- 

 pensive, this, together with various other obvious circumstances, must 

 render any attempt to establish a large iron-manufactory in this village 

 a very hazardous undertaking. No doubt, other kinds of wood might be 

 e ( 259 ) 



