The water, which is pumped from the
works, is ftrongly impregnated with copper,
and is received in dams and refervoirs con-
ftru&ed for the purpofe, and in vats like
the pits ufed by tanners. In thefe are placed
plates of caft iron, on which the copper is
precipitated, which is of the heft quality.
O f thefe pits there are fame hundreds ; and
in the vicinity are ovens to dry the copper.
After the fulphur is refined, it is melted
in iron veflels over a flow fire ; and when
liquid is caft into moulds, perhaps earthen
boilers would improve the colour, which is
far from good.
The Paris mine is worked at a con-»
fiderable expence; and with the .Mona
mine, employs about 1,200 hands above
ground. The greater number are occupied
in forting, dreffing, wafting, &c.
while few are employed under ground, the
deepeft (haft being about 40 yards.
The
The copper ore is extremely full of fuï-
phur and iron. About four hours are employed
in reducing it to a regulus. The
metallic fubftance running chiefly into the
firft pig, which is richer than the reft, the regulus
finking from its fuperior, weight. The
feeond is tolerable; but the others are thrown
afide, and form an article of fale for mending
roads. Formerly conical kilns were
ufed, but they were found too. expenfive.
The fmelting houfe is about 80 yjirds
in length, by 18 in breadth, and about 6
yards high.
The harbour is fafe and convenient;
but a bar feems wanted to break the furf.
The furrounding mountains appear to
be all formed of filiceous fhiftus; with a
kind of ferpentine, which cleaves and de-
compofes.