COPPER MINES. 227 



vided with plenty of candles, and led the 

 way to the mine. We came suddenly on 

 the abrupt brow of a hill, which at an ele- 

 vation of two hundred feet overlooked a 

 mountain-torrent. By a winding and rather 

 dangerous path, we descended to within 

 twenty feet of the stream, and then came 

 to the entrance of the mine. We were 

 then supplied with old roanas, which we 

 put on, tied handkerchiefs round our heads, 

 and each with a lighted candle, entered 

 the mine, preceded by the workmen as 

 guides. At first we descended gradually 

 for about one hundred feet, after which 

 we rapidly rose as much, and then con- 

 tinued to pass carefully along, in nearly 

 a horizontal position, for a hundred yards 

 further; we then came to the extremity of 

 the workings : here I found the load to be 

 inclined .upwards, and lying at about twenty 

 degrees from the perpendicular. It was 

 about three feet thick, and particularly 



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