sweepers, llmt ot" selling their back against one side, and their 

 feet against the other; the rope lo which the basket containing 

 the earth is atlached, being given into their hands as an assistance 

 and security; although this rope is not affixed to any thing above, 

 but held fast by one of the miners standing firmly on it near the 

 precipice. 



In searching for the earth they seldom go lower than twenty 

 feet, at which depth if they do not succeed, they abandon the 

 spot and try another; when successful, they work to the depth of 

 thirty feet, and then proceed laterally. On being repeatedly 

 a^ked, they all persisted in affirming that a mine seldom stood 

 longer than three months ; and numbers were destroyed by their 

 tailing in sooner. The Vanjarrces are the principal merchants 

 who purchase the earth, but others of various castes occasionally 

 deal in it. It is so abundant, that (contrary to the information given 

 by the smiths) we found it sold on the spot at two pice, or one 

 penny, for eight maunds of twenty-eight pounds each. The load- 

 ing of each bullock was one pice. About twelve seer of iron 

 was extracted from a maund of earth. None of the earth is kept 

 ready dug for sale, either within or without the mines; it is only 

 worked out when demanded: there are seven mines, and about 

 fifty bullocks on an average are daily loaded. The workmen are 

 not regularly in the pay of government, but are hired at the mines, 

 and are paid for lading the bullocks by the merchants; a person 

 appointed by government constantly attends to receive the price 

 of the earth from the merchants. 



Taking oft" my clothes, I descended into the largest mine, not 

 more than thirty feet deep, but extending in four different shafts, 



