440 
SALT. 
or galleries, the chapels above mentioned, and a few 
sheds built for the horses, which are foddered be- 
low, have given rise to the exaggerated accounts of 
travellers, that these mines contain several villages, 
inhabited by miners who never see the light. Al- 
though these accounts are totally without founda- 
tion, yet, according to the most authentic de- 
scriptions of this place, there is room enough for 
such purposes, the mines being of a stupendous ex- 
tent, and perfectly dry, except a small spring of 
fresh water which runs along the bottom. They 
have been worked since the year 1251 , and the 
miners are constantly relieved every eight hours. 
Mr. Coxe visited these famous mines before he 
left Poland; and as his description of the place is 
from actual observation, we shall subjoin as much of 
it as is necessary for our purpose. “ Upon our ar- 
rival at Wielitska,” says this traveller, “ we re- 
paired to the mouth of the mine. Having fastened 
three separate hammocks round the great rope em- 
ployed in drawing up the salt, we seated ourselves 
in a commodious manner, and were gently let down 
lho yards below the first layer of salt. Quitting 
our hammocks, we passed a long and gradual de- 
scent, sometimes through broad passages or galleries 
capable of admitting several carriages abreast; some- 
times down steps cut in the solid salt, which had 
the grandeur and commodiousness of the stair-case 
in a palace. We each carried a light, and several 
guides preceded us with lamps, the reflection of 
which, from the glittering sides of the mine, was 
