Year: 1863

was greatly impressed by the pro
found silence of these vast caverns. =
When we stood still, the utter absence
of sound was appalling. The falling Of
pin would have been relief Not
even the faintcst vibration of cir was
perceptible. No desert could be more
silent -or solitude more awful. stood
apart from the guides and lampbearers
in separate vault at distance at a
few hundred feet, in order that | might
fully appreciate this profound intertion,
and it really seemed as if the world were
no more.


From some Of these tunnels we
emerged into open cavelps, where few
workmen were employed at their dreary
labors. was surnrised that there were
not more to be seen, but was informed
that they were scattered in small parties
through niles Of earth, so that the mum
Der is not apparent to the casual visitor.
AS we approach the places whore they
were at word, the dull clicking of the
picks and hammers produced singular
effect through the vast solituces; as if
the gnomes, supposed to inhabit gloomy
pits were busily engaged at their dia.
bolical arts.


We came suddenly upon a group Of
workmen under shelving ledge, who
were occupied in detaching masses Of
crystalzed salt from cleft in which
they worked. They We're naked to the
middle, having nothing on but coarse
trowsers and boots, and wrought with
their crowbars and picks bv the light
Of few greasy lamps held by grmmy
little boys with shaggy heads members,
no doubt, Of the same subterranean
! family.


Some o. the men were lying on their
backs punching away with tremendous
toll at the rugged masses of salt over
head, their heads, faces and boi:es glit'
tcring with the showers Of salt grit that
fell upon them; while others stood up
to their arm.pits in dark holes delving
into the lower crevices. Seeing our
lights, they stopped 20 gaze at US
Was it possible they We're human be-
ings, these bearded, shaggy, grimy-look.
ing monsters9 Surely, If so, they well
represented the Internal character of
the place. Never upon earth 1.-THE sur
face of it. ] mean,) had ! seen such n
monsterous group; shocks of hair all
powdered with salt; glaring eyebans
overhung by white lashes flashing in
the fltful blaze of lamps; lrawny forms
glttering with crystal powder and
marked by dark currents of sweat! No
wonder stared at them with something
akin to distrust. They might hc mon.
sters in reality, and take sudden no.
tion to hurl me into one OF their internal
pits by way Of pastime; in which case
the only consolation would he, that
where there was such an abundance Of
salt, there would be no difficulty about
the preservation of my remains.


After all there was something sad in
the condition Of these poor wretches-
shnt out from the glorious light Of day,
immured in deep dark pits hundreds of
fee. underground; striving as it We're,
for life, in the bowels of the earth :
Surely the salt with which other men
flavor their food is gathered with inf
mite toll and mingled with bitter sweat!


Yet strange as it NAV seem. was in
formed by tho guide that these work.
men are 80 accustomed tn this kind Of
life that they prefer it tn any other
BY the rules of the directory they are
divided into gangs as on board ship.
The working gang is not permitted to
remain underground more than eight
hours; 1t is then relieved. The current
belief that some Of them live in tho
mines is not sustained by the facts. Tn
former times it is quite probable that
such was the case At present the al
ministration Of affairs j. more humane
than it was at an early period in the
history of the mines. The operatives
are free to quit whenever they please as
IN any private establishment. Plenty
of Others are always ready to take their
places. The pay is good, averaging
from thirty kreuzers to forin day.
Whenever it is practicable the work is
done by the piece. Each man receives
so much for specified result Good
workmen can make two or three hun
dred florins year The salt is gotten
out in various forms, according to the
depth of the stratum. Where it is
mixed with an amalgam Of hard earth
it is cut into cylindrical blocks and eX
ported IN that form to Russia. The
finer qualities are crushed and packed
ir barrels for expectation to various
parts Of Prussia and Austria.


We next visited the stables in which
the horses are kept for hauling the salt
on the subterraneaa railways. Many
Of these horses, it is said, never see day
light from tho time they enter the mines
In the course of few weeks they loose
their sight. A film gradually grows
over the eyes--from what cause | could
not ascertain. 1t NAV he the effects of
the salt or long continued darkness
though 1t does not appear that the min.
ers suffer any Inconvenience in this re
spect. i remember reading Of some
fish without eyes at all found in the
Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. Posi-
bly, having but little use for sight the
horaes Of Wieliezka go blind from a