Thomas Stewart Traill

“ The clay which covers the bed of salt at Cardona and forms the sides of the valley, exactly resembles the clay found in the salt district of Cheshire, having when dry some resemblance to shale but becoming plastic when moistened. It is remarkably pure, and free from intermixture except of salt, large masses of which are occasionally imbedded in it. ”

“ The great body of the salt forms a rugged precipice, which is reckoned between 400 and 500 feet in height at the upper extremity of the valley, and is covered by a thick bed of the clay above mentioned.
The precipitous form is partly owing to the manner in which the mine has been wrought for a series of ages. There is no excavation; but the salt has been procured by working down perpendicularly as in an open quarry. The lowest part of the present works has a solid floor of pure salt which is not above the level of the bottom of the valley where no salt is found ”

“ Several clerks are employed in an office built at the entrance to the mine, and the whole is under the direction of an Intendente or Inspector, who wears the uniform of an officer in the Spanish army; for the mine is the property of the crown, and is most rigidly guarded. Notwithstanding the rigour with which depredators are punished, the peasantry frequently attempt to deceive the vigilance of the guardians of the mine. When detected, the usual punishment for a peasant is, even on the first offence, two or three years labour among malefactors in some of the public works in the province. ”

“ Beyond Manresa the farcilite occurs till the traveller crosses the ford of the Cardonero, when it is succeeded by s limestone of a dirty iron brown colour, and dull, almost earthy, fracture. Beyond the village of Suria, a sandstone, which slightly effervesces with acids, makes its appearance. This rock constitutes the sides of the valley which contain the fossil salt. ”

“ The workmen here receive considerable wages, and are all free labourers; each man receives daily twelve reals vellon, which at the rate of exchange last year equals three shillings sterling: lads are paid at the rate of eight reals, or two shillings; and boys receive six reals, or one shilling and sixpence. ”