152 
CBUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGEB. 
through the grating by a stream of water into ripple 
troughs containing mercury, extending along both 
sides of the battery, and tbence over some twenty- 
four feet of blanketing ; tbe material collected by 
tbis process is conveyed into revolving barrels, with 
half its weight of quicksilver, sufficient for proper 
amalgamation. Heat is then applied, tbe mercury 
evaporated, and from the residue is collected tbe 
gold, which is afterwards taken to tbe bank or assay- 
house. Tbe working manager was very communi- 
cative, and from him I ascertained that tbe mine 
occupied tbe principal portion of tbe Black Hill, 
and contains about forty acres. Tunnels, nine feet 
high by seven wide, had been excavated at different 
levels, amounting in length to over 3000 feet ; these 
tunnels are connected at several points with tbe 
open workings at tbe top of the bill. 
Mining operations were in a depressed state at 
tbe time of my visit, but a few years before they 
were crushing here their 2000 tons of quartz per 
week, yielding, on an average, about fifty grains 
of gold per ton of quartz. * * * From here drove 
for a couple of miles, reaching tbe scene of tbe 
Winter’s Freehold Mining Company ; and having 
an introduction from Mr. J. Morrison, tbe manager, 
there was no difficulty in seeing everything of in- 
terest. At first I was struck by tbe appearance of 
the surroundings, from which I was led to imagine 
(from the tumble-down appearance, &c., of every- 
