MINING METHODS. 317 



Gangs of trained Chinese sinkers, who have learned their trade 

 in the Federated Malay States, can be obtained to undertake this 

 work, which is done on contract. A typical series of rotes is :— 



For tho first ton feet 

 ,, second ten feet 

 ,, third ten feet 

 ,, fourth ten feet . 



fifth ten feet 

 ,, sixth ten feet 



seventh ten feet 



Rs. A. 

 0-10 per foot. 

 0-12 



14 



1 

 1 s 



1 12 



2 8 



a all extra footage for sinking below its 



K water is met with, a sn 

 level is given. 



The shafts are from 2 to 2$ feet in diameter and are made with a 

 small pick, fitted with a short handle. A ordinary household bucket 

 is used to hoist out the earth. In good ground a depth of 10 to 9,0 

 feet can be made the first day. After this a small windlass is erected. 

 Descent to the bottom is made by using niches cut into opposite 

 sides of the pit, "When the air becomes foul a portable forge blower 

 is used to ventilate, through a long, oil-coated, calico tube, about 

 4 inches in diameter. Boulders may require explosives but the 

 low earnings of the sinkers in such cases are compensated for by the 

 rates they can earn in good ground. 



The method of sampling has been described as follows :—" The 

 sampling is carried out by making a vertical cut up the side of the 

 shaft and allowing the contents to drop into the suspended bucket. 

 This is usually done in 5 foot sections, the bucket being tipped into 

 a box measuring 8 X 8 X 7-J inches, and whose capacity eqnala 



1 cubic yard. The contents of the box are well rammed down 

 and levelled off, the material then being bagged and taken to the 

 nearest creek for washing. The quantity mentioned is a convenient 

 unit to wash, as it completely fills one of the ore bags used in ship- 

 ping wolfram concentrates and makes a convenient dishful tor 

 washing. The sample before bagging is weighed and its weight 

 compared with that of a measured cube of similar ground cut out of 

 some of the workings. The difference usually gives a fairly high 

 conservative factor for valuation, but allowance must be made for 

 the considerable percentage of large boulders not included in the 

 sample. The product of the washing is taken to the laboratory, 



when magnetite is removed by a magnet, the coarse material hand- 



