Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/470

452 carried on in an open shaft of such enormous depth, that the smallest stone detached from above, might prove fatal in its descent to some one of those engaged beneath. In addition to this, the water oozes continually from the sides of the shaft, loosening the earth, and keeping the miners below constantly wet; and as there is no "Partido," or share in the ore raised, to compensate these disadvantages, it is only by giving great additional wages that a supply of hands can be procured.

I know few sights more interesting than the operation of blasting in the shafts of Rayas. After each "barretero" has undermined the portion of rock allotted to him, he is drawn up to the surface; the ropes belonging to the different malacates are coiled up, so as to leave every thing clear below, and a man called the "Pĕgădōr" descends, whose business it is to fire the slow matches communicating with the mines below.

As his chance of escaping the effects of the explosion consists in being drawn up with such rapidity as to be placed beyond the reach of the fragments of rock that are projected into the air, the lightest malacate is prepared for his use, and two horses are attached to it, selected for their swiftness and courage, and called Caballos del Pegador, from being reserved for this particular purpose. The man is let down slowly, carrying with him a light, and a small rope, one end of which is held by one of