c 



162 COGGIN BROWN : MINES & MINERAL RESOURCES OF YUNNAN. 



with the prices in vogue in other parts of Yunnan. Tins is because 

 it has to be brought long distances, the neighbouring hills having 

 been absolutely denuded in past decades. 



The Hei-ching, salt is cleaner and of better appearance than 

 that prepared in Lan-ehing, and it brings a higher price, viz., 4 

 taels 5 mace per 100 catties. 



The present output is said to average roughly GOO, 000 catties 

 of salt per month, i.e., 7,000,000 catties per annum. 



Hou-ching is the most important of the salt-producing areas 

 of this part of the province. The town lies 



niinel°ana l bltoweiir Ifc tweIvc miles to the south-east of Hei-ching and 

 is about three miles to the south of Hsiang- 

 chi-shao on the main road from Ting-yuan Hsien to Yunnan Fu. 

 There is a very steep climb out of the Hei-ching valley, and after 

 this the route practically keeps to the top of a south-easterly-running 

 spur, at a general elevation of 8,000 feet until Hsiang-chi-shao is 

 passed. Thence a very precipitous descent brings one into the 

 town, which is built in a very inaccessible position, and may be 

 said to have sprung up around the mines, under the steep western 

 slope of the valley of a small mountain stream. 



There is very little cultivated ground in the neighbourhood, 

 the population being mainly engaged in, or dependent in some 

 way upon, the salt industry. 



Hou-ching possesses several brine-wells of the same type as 

 those already described, and also three mines from which rock- 

 salt is won. Permission to visit one of the mines was granted 

 me by the mandarin of the town. 



The salt mine, allowing for the absence of modern appliances 

 for drainage, ventilation, and haulage, is as good as any similar 

 underground working in Europe. The entrance level commenced 

 with a short upward, and then a gradually descending, slope for 

 about 200 yards until the present " working district " was met with. 

 The timbering could not be better ; indeed quite unusual precau- 

 tions are taken to hold up the roof and sides. The ventilation 

 is excellent and is obtained by driving air-shafts through to the 

 surface. From the lower end of the main level, galleries branch 

 off in various directions ; these are large and being arched, no 

 'timber is required in them. The salt occurs in patches and strings 

 jin a hard red sandstone of considerable, but unknown, thickness 

 only about 20 feet of it being mined. This red salt-bearing sand- 



