DISCOVERIES OF THE FRENCH. 193 
ference of nearly 5000 feet. The substances in 
which the gold is contained are here very differ- 
ent. About two or three feet below the surface 
is found a species of reddish sandstone, extremely 
hard ; this is mixed with a species of calculous 
emery, and very hard red marble. These substances 
cannot be submitted to ablution for the extrication 
of the gold, without being first pounded, and re- 
duced completely to powder. This constitutes a 
very tedious and laborious process, especially as the 
instruments employed are merely a pestle and mor- 
tar of hard wood, which are soon worn by the su* 
perior hardness of the pounded substances. At 
the depth of about 30 feet, the miners find a solid 
stratum of red marble, richly impregnated with 
gold, but upon which their skill does not enable 
them to make any impression. For these reasons, 
the mine of Semayla, though probably richer than 
that of Natakon, is considered in Bambouk as only 
of secondary value. The other two repositories 
are those of Nambia and Kombadyria, both con- 
tained in similar hillocks ; the gold combined in 
the same mechanical manner with the other sub* 
stances. The gold of Nambia, from its peculiar 
ductility, being easily worked, is more prized by 
the negroes than any of the rest. 
It appears, from the information of Mr Gol* 
berry, that the pits are sunk considerably deeper 
than had been reported by Compagnon — often as 
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