processes
for the reduction of auriferous quartz that the profit of the Indian
mines will really depend. Before, however, proceeding to the more
technical part of my Lecture, I wish you to understand distinctly that
I am not here to speak of any particular mining company. (Hear, hear.)
I will not even mention any particular mine if 1 can avoid it, lest I
should be supposed to puff it directly or indirectly, which would be
quite foreign to our meeting here. I shall also only speak of the
Wynaad gold fields, because I can do so from personal experience, which
I have not had of the Mysore fields, of which, therefore, I will say
nothing; but, at the same time, I beg that my silence may not be
construed by any of you who are interested in them as casting any doubt
on their probable value, while the processes of reduction are
necessarily equally important to both. I do not propose to take up your
time by a description of the geological features of the Wynaad
district, or to follow any authority, learned or otherwise, in
connecting the Devala of Wynaad with the Havilah of Genesis. Some
sceptical persons assert confidently that the gold fields are a myth
altogether, and to such and to others who doubt not, yet fear, I would
only say, "wait and you will see.'' That a valuable gold field lias
been discovered, or, I should rather say, rediscovered, there can be
no doubt whatever among those who, like myself, have examined it
practically ; but I must tell you candidly that much time and labour
will be required to develop it thoroughly, and as the old proverb, "the
more haste the less speed, " applies particularly to the early stages
of gold mining, I can only advise, and I do so most strongly, all who
are interested to exercise a little patience, and allow the necessary
work to be done methodically, which will be by far the cheapest course
in the long run. (Hear, hear.) Speaking in a very general way of the
great ranges of hills which form, as it were, the backbone of Southern
India, you will remark, on a map, that about the latitude of Calicut it
trends away to the East, and culminates in the higher mountain mass
known as the Neilgherry range, and it is along this portion from the
Vythery district (entered upon from below by the Tambracherry ghaut) to
the Neilgherry peak that so far as is known at present veins of
auriferous quartz and masses of quartz boulders are interspersed. The
latter (where auriferous) have in all probability been thrown off some
true reefs by convulsions of nature, but I need hardly remind you that
all quartz is not necessarily auriferous, and those who invest in
mining enterprise must be careful in discriminating for themselves
between what is likely to pay for working, and what can only result in
disappointment. The true fissure veins (which, have come under my
observation) are such, as with ordinary good management, can hardly
fail to give handsome results7 where they have the necessary advantages
of water and timber, an abundant supply of clean water being absolutely
necessary to the processes of reduction. I have thought it right to
warn the public against over sanguine estimates of results based upon
assays of small quantities of quartz, and that only actual crushing in
considerable quantity can prove the value of a quartz reef. I think it
more than probable that a reef in which free gold is visible, as well
as combined with pyrites, will yield under the treatment I am about to
explain to you by means of a working model, something like an ounce of
gold per ton, some possibly more, others probably less, but a yield of
half an ounce of gold, based on a moderate capital and cost of working,
will yield a very handsome profit. (Hear, hear.) This Wynaad gold
field, in common with all other gold fields of which I have had
experience is likely to yield some prizes, and a good many blanks (and
investors are generally shrewd enough to discriminate between genuine
concerns which are likely to yield prizes, and false concerns which are
like to result in blanks). I do not consider it necessary to dwell upon
matters of detail, such as the question of labour, which can be left to
directors and managers, but will proceed to the main object of my
lecture (and assuming that we have obtained our auriferous quartz, I
will show you how to extract the gold from it to the best advantage). I
am sure you will agree with me that
