396 SCHEMNITZ. 
CHAP. Afterwards, we made an excursion in the envi- 
. ■ ' , rons of Schemnitz, with a view to examine the 
nature and structure of the mountains in its 
^ , „ vicinity. We found them to consist of a hard 
Geology oi «' 
the Amite- argillaccous /jo/j&Az/nV/c rock, or of basalt, or of 
tains, slate. To the north of Schemnitz is a hill, fitted 
up as a " Mount Calvary,"" which consists of 
argillaceous schistus, containing mica, and detached 
fragments of jasper, incumbent upon basalt. 
The manner in which the veins of metal run, 
and the matrices of their ores, we have 
already described. All the water of the 
mines is collected into a reservoir, where a 
considerable deposit is made, both of gold and 
Town of silver, in the mud that subsides. The town of 
Schemnitz. 
Schemnitz itself merits more description than 
we have bestowed upon it. From the moun- 
tainous nature of the territory on which it stands, 
the buildings, scattered up and downj (some 
being stationed upon eminences, and others in 
low situations,) exhibit a picturesque appear- 
ance. As a place of residence, it is very agree- 
able; and the windows and fronts of the houses, 
being painted of different colours, give an air 
of gaiety to the streets'. 
(1) "There ate four churches; three for Catholics, and one for 
Lutherans, The inhabitants speak four languages. The most prevail- 
ing tongue is the Sclavonian; next to this, the Hungarian ; then the 
German ; 
