The gold-seeker's manual / By David T. Ansted.

  • David T. Ansted
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The gold-seeker's manual / By David T. Ansted. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    these would be perhaps as effectually, though more expensively, ])ulverizcd by a heavy stone rolling on its edge and worked by men*. The mining operations in California arc, as may be supposed, on a somewhat rude scale at present, and there cannot be a shadow of doubt that large quantities are allowed to escape the washings. These however will not travel far, and may reward, though in a smaller degree, those who carry on operations after the first fever of gold-seeking has passed away. A good idea will be formed of pre- sent proceedings by the following extract from Colonel Mason^s despatch :—“ The day was in- tensely hot, yet about 200 men were at work in the full glare of the sun, washing for gold—some with tin pans, some with close-wove Indian baskets; but the greater part had a rude machine, known as the cradle. This is on rockers, six or eight feet long, open at the foot, and at its head has a coarse grate, or sieve : the bottom is rounded with small elects nailed across. Four men are re- quired to work this machine : one digs the ground in the bank close by the stream; another carries it to the cradle, and empties it on the grate; a third gives a violent rocking motion to the machine, * Iron cylinders hardened at the surface by sudden cooling are used in Cornwall in crushing tin ores, and might be verv useful if available.
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