62 The Silver Mines 



Although the very surface of the mountain is argentife- 

 rous, some of the richer deposits are at depths vary- 

 ing from 100 to 200 yards. The working of the latter is 

 much impeded by the presence of water, to pump out which 

 great expense has been incurred by the Society of Miners and 

 owners of mines ; but on account of jealousy, and the 

 consequent want of unity of action, the valuable machinery 

 brought out from England, and already erected, is going to 

 decay, without affording the slightest advantage to any one. 



Many of the mines are entered from the houses of their 

 owners, whilst the mouths or entrances to others are protected 

 by small stone porches and well-fastened doors. 



My guide led the way to one of the deepest shafts, which 

 we descended from the surface by precipitous steps cut out of 

 the mountain in a very rough style, the width and height being 

 occasionally little more than enough to allow the miner to 

 pass with the bag of ore on his back. 



At other points Avhere valuable masses of ore had been 

 found, the excavation was considerable, and required the 

 greatest caution to avoid a precipitous fall. At various depths 

 the shafts run almost horizontally, as the deposits of ore may 

 have occurred ; after traversing which, you reach other 

 descending shafts, and by this means attain the different levels. 

 Though the temperature was occasionally oppressive, it did 

 not at all approach to what I had experienced either in the 

 Burra Burra copper mines, or the Monkwearmouth coal 

 mines at Sunderland, the men being able to work without 

 diminution of clothing. 



Tired as I was with the mere exertion of descent, I felt 

 thankful it was not my lot to carry up by those steep paths 

 the heavy knapsacks of ore under which the poor natives were 

 toiling, there being as yet no machinery at work to save 

 labour. These knapsacks are made of untanned hide, 

 and contain about 70 lbs. to 75 lbs. of ore, and are fitted with 

 arm straps. The native stretches himself on the ground, inserts 

 his arms through the straps, and then rising up, trots away 

 with a nimbleness almost incredible. 



The bags of ore, on being brought to the surface, are 

 poured out into heaps and then measured ; after which, by 

 the aid of mules, asses, horses, or llamas, the ore is carried to 

 the works for grinding, &c. 



As in other mines previously visited, the passages from 

 one shaft to another were occasionally so limited as to require 

 the serpent's mode of locomotion, and on reaching the lowest 



