Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 438

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Topography of Sz'chuen.

JULY,

feet and more in order to reach water, but all in vain; when uddenly an enor- mous jet of air burst forth, conveying with it thick black particles of matter. I saw it myself; it was more like the fumes of a burning furnace than like smoke. This air escaped with a deep rumbling noise and a frightful gasping, which was heard to a great distance; constantly emitting and throwing itself out, but never sucking in any air, for which reason I judged it to be a volcano, which received its supply of air from some lake, perhaps the great lake of Tungting in Húnán, about two hundred leagues distant. There is indeed upon a mountain a league distant, a small lake about two miles in circum- ference, of extraordinary depth, but I do not think that it is sufficient to sup- ply the volcano. This sheet of water has no communication with the river, and receives its supplies only froin the clouds.

"The mouth of each well is guarded with a stone curb, six or seven feet high, for fear leat, by carelessness or from malice, some one should set fire to the mouth of the pit; a case of this sort happened last August. This well is situated in the middle of a vast court, and in the centre of four large and long halls or boileries, where are the vats in which the salt is evaporated. As soon as the fire reached the mouth of the pit, it produced a frightful explosion and a violent trembling of the earth, and instantly, the whole surface of the court was in a blaze. The flame, which was about two feet high, ran over the ground, but without burning anything. Four men ventured the risk, and brought a stone of enormous size to the mouth of the well, but it flew into the air, and only one of the men escaped a scorching; neither water nor mud availed to extinguish the fire. At length, after fifteen days of hard labor, they brought great quantities of water over the neighboring mountain, and having formed a pool of it they let the water out all at once, by which means the fire was extinguished. This cost about thirty thousand francs, which is a con- siderable suin in China.

"A foot beneath the surface, four enormous bamboos are inserted, which conduct the gas under the caldrons; one pit furnishes enough to boil more than three hundred kettles, each of which has a bamboo to conduct the fire to it. At the head of the bamboo is a tube of clay, six inches long, and an inch in diameter, to prevent the fire from burning the wood. The streets and large hall or kitchens are also lighted from bainboos placed at proper places. They are not able to use all the fire, and the excess is conducted in a tube outside of the salt house, where it forms three blasts, with enormous sheets of flame, playing and blazing up two feet above the chimney.

"The surface of the earth in the enclosure is extremely hot and burns un- der the feet; even in January, the workinen are half naked, having nothing but a small pair of drawers to cover them. Like all other travelers, I had the curiosity to light my pipe at the fire of the volcano. This fire is extreme- ly powerful; the caldrons are cast four or five inches thick, but they are calcined and burnt through in a month. The salt water is conducted through bamboos to the spot, and received in an enormous cistern, from which, by means of a chain pump, worked night and day by four men, it is raised into a higher reservoir, whence it is carried off and supplies the kettles. The water is evaporated in twenty-four hours, and forms a cake of salt six inches thick, weighing about three hundred pounds and as hard as stone. This sait is whiter than that from Wú-tung-kiau, and sticks less to the throat; probably the charcoal which is employed at that place, or even the difference in the salt water produces the varieties. The water of this place is not so brackish as that of Wú-tung-kián, and produces as many as three or even four ounces of salt per pound. In Wú-tung-kiáu, charcoal is dear, while here, ou the other hand, the fire costs nothing. Moreover the salt from the two dis- tricts is sold in different cities, and the custom-house officers forbear to med- dle with this imperial regulation.