280 
MINES, METALS, AND GEMS. 
works, in tlie same direction, might be dangero^®^ 
are issued for the miners to stop, and ,\n j {<A 
fixed on the spot, as a prohibition "'ver to '* 
The workmen tlien explore in a difterent diret ^ 
every subterraneous excavation is nicely watched- 
The traveller passes into the great chasm .f 
wooden step.s, wliich cross, in a variety of dd ' 
rough masses of fallen rocks, of gravel, and ot “ 
machinery. Ere he reaches the entrance ot 
has to descend tliirty toises; and this being _ 
proceeds horizontally to a considerable 
Wfis ttrtw nnr<=i air of dav. and ^ ' 
an oppressive vapour, which rolls towai'd.s him, ‘‘ 'L- 
from the mouths of a hundred caves leading"’ / 
passage. He now feels as if he were inha"’g ,f.^ 
sphere of Tartarus. The Swedish iron mine* , 
described above, are mere purgatories "died 
- • reJ'id .-.111 
in 
with this Satanic dwelling. The descent is folk’'', 
tirely by steps laid in the winding rock ; and, (liS 
the subterraneous declivity, the traveller re" 
mendous depths of these truly Stygian dominio”^.',|, " 
The pestilential vapours which environ him I'jy 
i- clouds, and the style of the entrance, 
mg clouas, ana me styie or me eiuraucc, ■- ,[,e-,|V 
Virgil's description of the descent of ^neas t® j y 
regions. Here are to be seen the same 
the rocky, rough descent, tlie steaming suU ”’ WJ 
the deadly stenches of Avernus. The sf"* 
of this gloomy cavern appear to him like so nn 
as poetic fiction has described them ; and be f 
tlie length of tlie way, joined to tlie e.xcessi'’d 
sutfbeating quality, to fancy that he will be ” jj, t 
dearly for his curiosity. In one part the u.e P'f."; 
sivciy hot as to scorch at the distance of t"® 
tlie same time tliat the sulphureous smell 
soil’® 
, 5 “ 
■Of-' 
Near this spot a volcanic fire broke out 
consequence of which, strong walls were^ 
barriers to its power, and several conti&'-^^.joip , 
which, had it spread, would have proved dai’o 
mine, closed up. and '.''‘r 
The visitor has now to traverse many long t", ' 
galleries, as well as large vaulted caverns, " ‘ 
men are dispersed on sides, employed «’ 
