SALT. lgl 



it is heated and then filtered whilst hot, through linen which catches 

 all insoluble impurities, into a second pan. As it becomes more 

 concentrated, it is transferred again and again by means of a small 

 wooden baler with a long bamboo handle, until* solid cakes of salt 

 are obtained. When the furnace, which is heated with fires of 

 brushwood or pine needles, is cool, the salt is taken from the pans, 

 cleaned and weighed. Alternate furnaces are worked on alternate 

 days, so as to allow of repairs being effected. At intervals of a 

 month or so. the brick and clay work of the furnace is replaced, 

 the old material being broken up and leached with water to extract 

 the salt with which it is impregnated. The life of the pans in 

 this somewhat rough treatment is short, though to facilitate tin; 

 extraction of the salt they are generally well oiled before boiling 

 is commenced. 



The monthly output of the live wells is said to average about 

 80,000 catties of salt per month, i.e., 960,000 catties per annum. 



One hundred catties of Lan-ching salt are sold for 3 taels 8 

 mace of silver. 



These figures were given to me by the Salt Revenue Official of 

 the Chinese Government in charge at Lan-ching. 



Hei-ching is situated about six miles to the north-east of Lan- 



Hei-chin- and its ^^ The r ° ad after leavin S tIie &tter place, 

 brine wclls.° commences at once the ascent to a steep north 



and south ridge, which here forms the western 

 boundary of the Tso'-Iing Ho watershed. The crest of the ridge 

 has an elevation of 7,300 feet, and there is a very steep descent 

 down to the river at Hei-ching (5,500 feet). 



The small town is practically built around the brine-wells, 

 which are situated along the bottom of the narrow valley, on the 

 west side just above the level of the river. Eight wells, all of 

 which appear to be in a massive red sandstone formation are 

 producing brine at the present time. I have visited all these 

 and found that although the majority are situated under-ground 

 like those in Lan-ching, there are others here which are open 

 to the surface. The brine is won and treated by methods exactly 

 similar to those just described, though the industry, being much 

 larger here, supports a greater number of men. The average pay 

 of a coolie is from two and a half to three and a half taels per 

 month and the pay of an overseer ten taels per mensem. The 

 brushwood used for firing the furnaces is costly in comparison 



