4. The filver mines o f Nerihinik, which were opened in
’ 1704, are iituated in Dauria, the fouth eaftermoft part of
Siberia, between the rivers Shilka and Argoon, and are very
numerous.
Their produce from their firft opening to the year 1772
is as follows*.
Pounds o f filver. ‘
From 1704 to 1 7 2 1 4.7 3 2
1 7 2 1 to 1 7 3 1
1 7 3 1 to 174 1
1 7 4 1 to 1 7 5 1
1 7 5 1 to 176 1
1 7 6 1 to 1 7 7 1
1 7 7 1
17 7 2
1,498
1.333
15 .6 5 7
43.631
126,247
16,733
l 6 , 2 0 0 , which contained 200 pounds
_ _ _ _ _ _ ° i gold.
226,031
In 176 7 they yielded 17,400 pounds; but the annual
average produce may be eftimated at 16,000. The iilver
contains, in 40,000 pounds, nearly 500 o f gold, which is
feparated at Peteriburgh. The ores being generally very
rich in lead, and extremely poor in iilver, the latter is eafily
ex trailed. Many millions o f poods of lead remain ufelefs
upon the fpot, only about 14 or 18,000 being annually
required for the reparation of the iilver from the copper
at the founderies o f Kolyvan ; the carriage into the inner
parts of the empire being too expenfive ; and the export to
China being prohibited.
The number o f men employed in thefe mines and
founderies are about 1900-free colonifts, between 1000 and
1800 conviils, and 11,000 Ruffianpeafants o f the diftridt
* Buf. Erd.— Bef. Vol. I. p. 1126,
of
o f Nerihinik : 6000 o f thefe latter are employed in cutting c h a p .
and carrying wood, making and tranfporting charcoal; , / .
while the reft, who live at fome diftance from the mines,
cultivate a certain portion o f ground, and bring in winter
the produce to the magazines o f the founderies. The annual
expences may generally be rated at £14,800.
5. Some mines yielding iilver have been lately difcovered
in the diftridt o f Krafnoyarik near the Lena, between the
rivers Yins and Yenifei.
The gold o f Catharinenburgh is obtained at the rate o f 40
guineas per pound ; and as when coined it produces ¿6 8 ¡s .
the profit is not very confiderable.
The filver and gold from Kolyvan is procured without any
expence, as I have before-mentioned. A pound o f filver
from Nerihinik is faid tocoft between 1 6s. a n d ^ i ; and as the
fame, quantity o f this metal, when coined, is equal to 22
roubles 75 copecs and U or = about ^4 1 os. \d. the prefit is
great. The gold extradied from this filver is obtained for
£ 11 8s. per pound.
2. The crown poffeffeS at prefentbut very few copper and
iron works.
The iron works in the north part o f the diftridl o f Olonetz
produce annually between 8 or r 0,000 poods o f caft iron
for guns, bombs, and balls ; and 15,000 o f indifferent iron
in bars and plates : thofe o f the Uralian mountains employ
above 1700 workmen, and 26,800 peafants; and yielded, in
1772. 423,987 poods o f iron in bars and plates, which
were chiefly ufed for the army and navy : that of Kamenik
gave in the fame year 93,000 poods o f iron, which were
forged into guns, and 8172 into bars.
Four copper founderies on the weft fide o f the Uralian
Mountains, in the government of Orenburg, and three in
Permia,