Chap. VIII.— B. S.] MINERAL RICHES. Ill 
same direction, tlie drainage of this second section 
would, undoubtedly, be secured, and that continuation, 
or cabazeles, as it is called, could also be worked, at 
how great a profit will be apparent when it is men¬ 
tioned that the lode is quite as broad and rich on this 
side of the river as on the opposite bank. Those who 
have had to contend against the difficulties and great 
expenditure caused by a flooded mine can thoroughly 
estimate the value and importance of so favourable a 
location; indeed, it is not too much to say that here 
is the proper spot to commence operations on a large 
scale. The Javali river is, and must continue, the 
only real basis of mining operations in this district, 
until further explorations disclose other “ plantels ” 
or water-power of a like force. 
The quality of the ore, in respect to the ease with 
which it may be ground, is very good; in some parts 
of the vein it is more or less hard, but the majority of 
it is quite soft and friable; the hardest of it could 
without difficulty be reduced by proper stamps and 
modern machinery, even without calcination. The 
ley or percentage of gold in the ore seems to increase 
with the descent from the surface. The supply may 
be said to be inexhaustible. The width of the vein 
varies from two to as many as twenty yards; taking 
the average width as only three, there would then 
be contained in this first section of the lode before 
spoken of as the one situated above the water line 
of the Javali river, not less than 231,957 cubic yards 
of ore, or about 475,512 tons. In the second section 
there is contained, assuming the same average width 
