334

BOOK VIII.

* . J

A —Tray. B —Bowl-like depression. C— Handles,

Wm

.-rag

W*r-

mm

Sand mixed with particles of gold is also washed in a tray, or in a troughor bowl. The tray is open at the further end, is either hewn out of asquared trunk of a tree or made out of a thick plank to which side-boardsare fixed, and is three feet long, a foot and a half wide, and three digitsdeep. The bottom is hollowed out into the shape of an elongated bowl whosenarrow end is turned toward the head, and it has two long handles, by whichit is drawn backward and forward in the river. In this way the fine sandis washed, whether it contains particles of gold or the little black stones fromwhich tin is made.

The Italians who come to the German mountains seeking gold, in orderto wash the river sand which contains gold-dust and garnets , 19 use a fairlylong shallow trough hewn out of a tree, rounded within and without, openat one end and closed at the other, which they turn in the bed of the streamin such a way that the water does not dash into it, but flows in gently.They stir the sand, which they throw into it, with a wooden hoe, alsorounded. To prevent the particles of gold or garnets from r unning out withthe light sand, they close the end with a board similarly rounded, but lowerthan the sides of the trough. The concentrates of gold or garnets which,

19 Carbunculus Carchedonius — Carthaginian carbuncle. The German is given byAgricola in the Interfretatio as granat, i.e., garnet.