ON THE CHINA-STONE AND CHINA-CLAYS OP COKNWALL. 207 



the presence of some iron lode which causes them to become loosened 

 in texture, and reddened ; the stope is then termed " brawny," and this 

 has to be thrown aside as useless. 



Having thus briefly given a general outline of the nature, composi- 

 tion, and history of these clays, I shall proceed to the notice of the mode 

 of preparation of them, in this county, which, though simple in theory, 

 requires much care and attention in its execution, and consists essentially 

 in the separation of the quartz from the mica and kaolin, and the sub- 

 sequent collection of the latter. The execution of this process in any of 

 the extensive works in St. Stephen's parish, one of which would cover 

 from 10 to 13 acres of ground, and from which 2,000 to 3,000 tons are 

 annually raised, aud fitted for the market, forms a curious and interest- 

 ing spectacle of whitewashed happy industry for the contemplation of 

 the traveller during the months of summer. 



Distant from five to eight miles from St. Austell, situated in the- 

 centre of barren, rugged, heathery wilds, enclosed by stone walls and 

 bounded on every side by cold, bleak, and rugged hills, these works 

 have a picturesque appearance. In one part of them may be seen from 

 30 to 40 men, boys, and women, who, with their white bonnets,, white 

 aprons, and sleeves, carry the still whiter clay, in large junks, to the 

 surrounding hills or drying grounds to be exposed to the warm rays of 

 the sun, the dry winds, and the bleaching power of the air ; in another 

 may be seen other parties scraping the clay prior to its being packed in 

 casks, to be sent to various parts of the old and new world ; circular or 

 oval pits and square pans are lying in all directions, their continuity 

 here and there disturbed by one or two water-wheels in incessant motion,. 

 or piles of dried clay covered with reeders, or lying in sheds ; while at 

 one extremity of the work may be seen a number of men and boys 

 employed in excavating the clay stope, removing the overburden, or 

 shearing the stope to wash away its elay ; the sand at the same time- 

 being removed to the drying ground by means of a tram road, the 

 waggons passing along which are worked by the aid of water power J 

 while overhead launders attached to pumps for various purposes seen* 

 to form a skeleton roof to the whole. 



The beds of clay stope are exposed by the removal of the overburden 

 which varies in thickness : in some places lying but a few feet from the- 

 surface ; while in others the only bed fit to be washed is placed at a 

 depth of from 10 to 20 fathoms from the surface ; the removal of the- 

 superimposed earth is effected by a number of men with their pickaxe- 

 and shovels, which, by their barrows, they transport to the adjacent 

 rugged country, so as to render it smooth and level, in order to form 

 drying fields for the summer. While this is in progress, the clay stope, 

 over the top of which flows a small stream of water, is being excavated 

 by another sot of men, which, as the water passes through, has the clay 

 suspended in it by the treading action to which the stope is subjected 

 by means of the large boots, often seven pounds weight, with which the 



