815 
AND THE ECONOMY OF THE MINES, 
Tlie process of smelting, on account of the heat of the climate, is 
always performed at night. In the course of the afternoon, the ne¬ 
cessary preparations are made. The ore is collected in large heaps 
in each extremity of the building, and the coals are arranged near 
both furnaces : 48 large baskets, each containing several bushels, are 
generally required for one night’s smelting at each furnace. The ne¬ 
cessary implements consist in several shovels, pOkers and ladles. 
About an hour before the operation, 3 or 4 baskets of coals are 
set on fire on the plain before the furnace, so as to be thoroughly 
ignited at the commencement; in the interval the smelter (who is 
called Tukan puput) with his assistants, takes a substantial meal 
on the platform in the extremity of the building, during which they 
indulge plentifully, drinking an inebriating liquor prepared from rice. 
The ignited coals are now thrown into the fire place, which is re- 
plenished from time to time from the store in readiness; the venti¬ 
lators, drawn by three robust Chinese, begin to work, and are kept in 
motion incessantly till the process of smelting is completed. A quan¬ 
tity of water is collected in large tubs near the furnace, and one of the 
assistants is employed during the night to dash it over the floor, both 
for the purpose of cooling the air, and preventing an accumulation of 
ashes. The coals being thoroughly ignited the ore is thrown, in 
divided quantities, into the center of the fire place : 6 or 8 shovels 
full are thrown in at a time, and this is repeated at short intervals 
without interruption until the process is concluded. In the course 
of about 15 minutes the melted metal is observed in vivid drops dis¬ 
tilling from the lower aperture ; its discharge and that of the accom¬ 
panying dross is assisted by the smelter with a poker. When the 
furnace is completely ignited a great degree of heat is produced : 
being properly charged with ore successively thrown on, the metal 
is observed at intervals flowing in a stream from the lower aperture, 
which protrudes a flame to a considerable distance attended by a roar¬ 
ing noise. 
One of the assistants, in the mean while, forms the moulds in the 
moistened sand placed in readiness in an oblong excavation near the 
furnace : and in the course of about four hours a sufficient quantity 
is generally collected in the basin for fillmg the moulds : sixteen Ingots 
are cast at one time ; and if the process turns out favourably, the casting 
is repeated thrice during the night: on an average 44 or 45 Ingots are 
considered a satisfactory produce from one operation : but several 
circumstances influence its result. If the ore is very line, part of it 
