The mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1863-1943, 1865-07-22
Ths sulphur saaaes ~ Forms...

In the island Of Formosa theaois,yHSssh
70 interest even the most superficial OBJ
server, while the Geld which it offers to
the scientific investigator is abundantly
wide and varied. Among the objects Of
interest, the sulphur mines at Tan1sui
we'll deserve . place and as | visited
them, | will endeavor 20 give some idea
Of their appearance and characteristics.
| had visited the place before, but on
reaching this harbor from Taiwamfoo, /
resolved to 60 again, chiefly on account Of
one Of our officers, Eho would, in all
probability, not again have the opportu-
nifty. On inquiry on shore. found that
the captain of q French bark-the Bon
vueran-and his brother, the mate, in
tended going up the next day, when ae-
cordingy we were invited to Join.-
Starting next morning with the tide, we
proceeded seven miles up the river, and
an reaching our point Of debarkation,
hired coolies to carry our hamper Of pro-
visions. Arming three Of the French
sailors, and having looked well to guns,
revolvers, cutlasses, ETC., we commenced
our march inland. Through rice-felds,
butfalo.tracks, over hills, through water,
mud, and rough stony ways, did we
trudge for four hours, keeping gradually
on the ascendant as We approached the
mines. Here, may remark, the air is
very heavy and full Of an undefinable
vapor. AS we proceeded, We found the
temperature Of the brooks and rivulets
increase until we could not bear our
hands in them. Bathing in this water is
good for various complaints. Rheuma.
tism yields to one or two baths As If by
magic; skin diseases, so common among
the Chinese, are removed. We tested its
efficiency by experiment on two young
dogs which we took up with us in the
boat, they being cured Of skin .diseasc
by one good plunging into water at about
one hundred and twenty degrees temper
ature. Along the route the wonderful
industry of the Chinese was observable
in the irrigation Of the rice fields. These
are formed in steps, like an arnphitheater,
on the sloping sides Of the hills, and con-
vcy an idea Of the immense labor attend
ing the cultivation Of rice over that nec-
essary for the growing Of our moro hardy
food at home. The wooden acqueducts
for conveying the supply of water across
ravines to its required level are Of the
most primative description. Square tow
ers pierced for musketry are frequent
along the road, which to within mile ol
the valley is lined by, and carried
through, fields Of pineapples. But sud.
cenly, on lifting our eyes from the narrow
pathway, we found ourselves overlooking
a singular scene. Conceive a vast leve
tract of stones, entirely bare Of vegeta'
ton, and so forming great contrast With
the verdure clad sides Of the surrounding
mountains, dotted here and there with
Jets Of white smoke and steam, and
stretching further than the eye can reach
on every side: 10 me the idea conveyed
was that which had often been pictured
to my mind in reading Milton. and just
what my Imagination had painted as the
great picture of chaos, where Ovid repre-
scnts the four elements Of fire, air and
earth, and water as huge conglomerate
mass. To portray the scene, l will not
attempt; but fancy the valley to be about
eight miles long and three miles wide,
bounded by high mountains, from the
green slopes of which, as one gazes upon
the scene, the mind is filled with impress
sions of wonder and awe. We continued
our way until We arrived at the principal
hole. from which the sulphur issued in q
sublimcd form, and condensed on the
stones beside it, The noise with which
it issues from these holes resembles the
escape from waste steam pipe of steam
at about twenty pounds. Quantities Of
sand are blown up along with the sui.
phur. OF course curiosity prompted US
to throw some large stones into the hole
from which the vapor issued but they
were instantly blown out and away to one
side, proving the existence of consider
able pressure underneath. Many other
holes are likewise to be SEEN some, too,
from which no vapor issued, proving that
it had found vent elsewhere. In many
of the holes water was seen to be in con.
slant ebullition, boiling away at terrific
rate and the water from these running
into the mountain streams, heats the lat
ter for miles, and impregnates them with
volcanic matter. The French captain
filled three bottles with the water to send
to Marseilles for analysis. The sulphur
is extracted from the stones, which are
heated in castiron pans, about two feet
in diameter, after which it is left to cool
in caskes for use. The mines being the
property Of the Mandarins, who work
them for their own benefit, there is, Of
course, very little done at tthem. We did
not see more than half dozen men at
work, and perhaps as many more carry
ing the sulphur cakes down the mountain
sides for storage. i Correspondence Of the
Edinburg Scotsman.