524 
IRON. 
other workmen can earn thirteen pence. The wa- 
ter is drawn out of the pits by means of pumps 
worked by water. These pumps are of great length, 
and occasion considerable expense for repairs. A 
steam-engine was once employed for this purpose, 
but laid aside on account of the scarcity and dear- 
ness of charcoal.” 
The iron-mines in Siberia concur with those of 
Sweden to furnish most of the iron used in Russia and 
the rest of Europe. The two principal mines are on 
the borders of the Uralian mountains, one thirty, and 
the other fifty, leagues to the north of Ekatherinburg. 
The first is in a mountain of about four hundred 
feet high, and the veins of mineral, which are nearly 
vertical, run north and south. The summit of this 
mountain in particular is almost one mass of mi- 
neral, which is said to extend two hundred fathoms 
in length, and half as much in breadth. The veins 
consist of rich black iron ore, separated from each 
other by beds of slate and stone. The Russians 
annually draw from this mountain two millions of 
poucls , or about thirty-four thousand tons of mineral 
that produces excellent iron. 
The other mine is situated in a mountain of a 
similar shape, and celebrated for the loadstones 
which are found in it. Blocks are occasionally dis- 
covered of forty pounds weight, and great attractive 
power. Many small ones are likewise found, but 
they have not the ability to support a weight in 
proportion to those of a larger size. Patrin says 
he has met with some that would support twenty- 
