( 2000 ) 
groundjhath Eight defcents^of which the two chief, being 
in the Town it felf, are thofe through which the Salt is 
drawn up 5 the other two do ferve for letting down Tim* 
ber and other neceflaries. Thefe defcents , or holes, are 
fivelquare^ four or five foot long, and as broad, lined 
downwards thorough with Timber. Above , is a great 
Wheel, with a ftrong rope, of the thicknefs of a lufty 
arhi, drawn about by a Horle, like in a Horf-milU 
fie that will defcend, muft cover himfelf with a Frock, 
and have another man, that faftens another rope to the a- 
forefaid big rope , and having fo tyed it about himfelf as 
to fit in it, takes one in his lap and holds him fafl: about 5 
whereupon the big rope being let fomewhat down , ano- 
ther faftens likewife a piece of rope to the other thick 
rope^ and does like the former, feating himfelf in it, and 
taking and clafping another man in his lap , and being alfo 
let down a little way gives place to others to do the like ^ 
in which manner, thirty, fourty and more perfons may be 
letdown all at once of whom thefirft having touch'tthe 
ground, fteps out and goes afide, the reft following him and 
doing the like- And thus they defcend to the depth of 
100 Fathoms. But then they take a Lamp , and lead 
people about by ftrange paflages and Meanders , ftill more 
and more defcending, till they come to certain Ladders, by 
which they go down an 100 Fathoms deeper, where there 
are double paflages and holes one above another, in abun- 
dance 5 for the Mine-men dig on ftill , and cut out every 
where and on all fides, as long as the Salt-vein lafteth, and 
Salt is found 5 but the Vein being loft, and no more Salt 
appearing in one place , tliey fearch for other Salt- veins 5 
whence come fo many lioles and pafiiages out of one into 
another. The great holes , to fecure both the Town a- 
bove,and the work below from falling in, are very care- 
fully filled out and fupported by ftrong and well-compa- 
fted Timbe-r 3 of which there is enough in thofe Works 
to build a big Town with* 
Out of thefe Mines they dig and cutout three forts of 
Salt i one is common^ courfe and black 5 the fecond fome- 
what 
