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42 The veins after they have been discovered, and likewise the shafts and tunnels, have names given them, either from their discoverers, as in the case at Annaberg of the vein called " Kolergang," because a charcoal burner discovered it; or from their owners, as the Geyer, in Joachimstal, because part of the same belonged to Geyer; or from their products, as the " Pleygang " from lead, or the " Bissmutisch " at Schneeberg from bismuth ; or from some other circumstances, such as the rich alluvials from the torrent by which they were laid bare in the valley of Joachim. More often the first discoverers give the names either of persons, as those of German Kaiser, Apollo, Janus; or the name of an animal, as that of lion, bear, ram, or cow; or of things inanimate, as " silver chest " or "ox stalls "; or of something ridiculous, as " glutton’s nightshade"; or finally, for the sake of a good omen, they call it after the Deity. In ancient times they followed the same custom and gave names to the veins, shafts and tunnels, as we read in Pliny: " It is wonderful that the shafts begun by Hannibal in Spain are still worked, their names being derived from their discoverers.

One of these at the present day, called Baebelo, furnished Hannibal with three hundred pounds weight (of silver) per day."

END OF BOOK II.