178 



AccQimt of the Gold Mines 



[No. 



capitalists having engaged in the speculation by employing coolies, 

 on their own account. These considerations weigh powerfully with 

 the Committee in giving it as their decided opinion, that the produc- 

 tiveness of the mines is by no means such as to warrant entering up- 

 on any operations upon them on a grand scale with European Ma- 

 chinery. They are aware that in this decision, they differ widely 

 from Lieutenant Nicolson. They are far from wishing to accuse 

 that gentleman of any intention to mislead ; on the contrary they con- 

 sider that he has been actuated by a desire to benefit the Govern- 

 ment under which he serves. But at the same time they may be al- 

 lowed to remark that his sanguine and enthusiastic temper seems to 

 have led him to form his opinion of the value of the mines in Mala- 

 bar, more by his wishes than by the facts before him. He has look- 

 ed on the bright side of the question on all occasions, has always 

 taken the highest average as a guide for his calculations, and has 

 overlooked circumstances, which if properly considered would have 

 convinced him of the futility of his speculations." 



II. On the subject of the Machinery required and the expense of 

 working the mines it is unnecessary to follow the report. The Com- 

 mittee estimated the cost of the former at 19,000 Rupees, one item of 

 which — a Steam Engine with buildings— alone amounted to 12,000 

 Rupees, or including cover for the workmen 20,000 Rupees for the 

 Capul mine. 



In calculating the produce of the same mine they assumed from 

 the fact already ascertained of the produce of one man's unaided labour 

 being ^ of a gold fanam or two grains per diem, that with machinery 

 it might amount to 10 grains which with 100 men would be 1,000 

 grains a day. The principal advantage of Machinery" they observe 

 *'lies in the facility of keeping the shafts free from water, the rapi- 

 dity of bringing the earth containing the gold to the surface, and the 

 washing of a larger quantity at once." They supposed therefore that 

 one man might in this way accomplish the labour of five, and they 

 quote the experience of the South American mines that the applica- 

 tion of machinery had trebled the quantity obtained without it. Tak- 

 ing the number of working days then at 24 in the month and not 

 reckoning for several minor items, such as the price of mercury 

 for amalgamating, &c. they give the result of their estimate in the 

 following Table : 



