Szechtian Coal-mine 187 



sweepings would replace this rubbish to the advantage of all 

 concerned. All eat and drink alike at the mine, and as the 

 miners are fed by the proprietors, economy in food is studied 

 more than quality. Still, as I had been looking forward to 

 the usual refreshing cup of tea after our long day in the sun, 

 I was much disappointed. Being pretty well tired out, I 

 deferred my visit to the mine until the morning : meanwhile 

 I noted down the chief statistics as detailed to me by the 

 obliging superintendent of works : — 



Coal raised per day 30 tons. 



Coal raised per day before workings stopped by water ... 60 tons. 



Total number of men employed 120 



viz. — Hewers, at work in four galleries 36 



Carriers, between the galleries and the mouth ... 36 



Pumpers, working the bamboo pumps 36 



Fanners, working the revolving fans 12 



besides superintendent, foreman, two accountants and landlord's agent 

 appointed to tally the output and collect his royalty of 1 75 copper cash 

 for each " to-tze," or basket of 260 catties, being the equivalent of S^. 

 per ton of 2240 pounds ; my friends, the Tungs, being the present 

 owners of the mine. 



The men work in two shifts of twelve hours per day of 

 twenty-four ; their rice, which is provided by the lessee of 

 the mine, being carried to them three times a day. Their 

 pay is 140 cash per day, equal to sixpence-halfpenny, in 

 addition to their food, worth about half this amount. The 

 wages are paid every ten days, pay-day being a holiday : 

 they thus receive ten days' pay for nine days' labour. On 

 the other hand, each pair of workers, viz. a hewer and a 

 carrier, are bound to deliver daily eleven " to-tze " at the 

 pit's mouth. Thus the delivery of each ton of coals costs 

 in actual labour about one shilling. 



The ventilating fans are circular and enclosed in boxes, 

 and are precisely similar to those used for winnowing tea. 



