gurrahs. It is now of a thick dirty bluish green colour, and is taken to the boiling house, Plate VIII., where it is boiled in common gurrahs over a fire in choolas, something like those used in kitchen. ranges. When the liquor is sufficiently concentrated to string, it is left to cool, and thin sticks being introduced, the sulphate of copper at once separates and crystallizes on them. The mother liquor is then drained off into other gurrahs, as it still contains in solution, a considerable quantity of the sulphate of copper as well as of alumina: it is again boiled down, and treated with nitrate of potash, which causes alum to crystallize at the bottom of the vessel. The residual liquor still contains a quantity of both sulphates, and is allowed to evaporate in broken gurrahs in the sun, when a considerable quantity of impure and imperfectly crystallized sulphate of copper and alum is left, taking the shape of the bottom of the vessel. Both the sulphate of copper and the alum require another crystallizing to purify them. The pure sulphate of copper sells at Khetree for Rs. 14 per Khetree maund, the impure for Re. 1. The alum sells for Rs. 4 per maund. Each maund of ore is said to yield of a seer of pure sulphate of copper, 14 seers of impure ditto and of a seer of alum. The results of the expenditure and profit of one establishment were as follows. Seven to eight maunds of shale, to which an equal quantity of the crust from the heap had been added, produced four large gurrahs of good liquor, each weighing 40 to 45 seers. Each gurrah gave 2 seers of sulphates in about equal proportions, and 5 seers of impure residue. 065 Four seers sulphate copper at 14 Rs. per maund, Rs. 1 6 5 ... ... ... 08 0 Or per month Rs. 69-1, which would be for eight working months Rs. 552-8. From this however, must be deducted the Raj's due, which is of the gross produce, or Rs. 92-1-4, leaving Rs. 460-6-8 per annum to the Bunya, The expenses were. Five maunds wood (at 16 maunds per rupee) and oplah (cow-dung cakes) per diem, say Rs. 8-5-4 per mensem or for 8 months, ... ... Rs. ... ... 66 10 8 12 0 0 600 Wages to laborers 2 at 4 Rs. and 4 at 2 Rs. per 192 0 0 ... ... The above shows a profit of 183 rupees a year or 15 rupees a month, but if we allow for festivals, &c., the profit may be stated at 12 rupees a month, and the poor condition of the Bunyas who conduct the works would not induce one to place it at a higher sum. During the rains, the boiling of course ceases, as the sulphates will not crystallize. At that time the water draining from the lower terraces is poured again and again on the upper ones, to bring to the surface as much as possible of the undissolved sulphates in the heap. On fine days the labourers are employed in storing wood, or in visiting the mines to lay in a stock of shale for operations during the more favourable season. LIST OF PLATES. I.-Town of Khetree with hill fort. II.-Pounders of copper ore with 'ghuns.' III.-Koomhar making a smelting furnace for copper ore. IV.-Copper smelting furnace in work. V.-Copper refining furnace with troughs for metal. VI.-Alum and sulphate of copper works, showing refuse heaps. VII. The same, (another view.) VIII.—Interior of boiling house for alum and sulphate of copper. |