“We have occasional visitors, many of them being shareholders in the various mines, bringing with them introductions from England, and wishing to inspect all the works, stamps, etc., on the surface, and very often going underground.  Several ladies have been taken down the mines lately, but they do not seem to care for it much, for though of course it is interesting, still the fatigue of going down so many feet on ladders is great.  The mines, too, in many parts are dirty and wet, and amongst other disagreeables are the cockroaches, which are enormous, and the stinging ants.  Ladies too, I find, are as a rule disappointed at not seeing more ‘visible gold.’  I believe they cherish generally some idea of picking up a nice little nugget to keep as a souvenir of their expedition.

“None of the mines have any ‘cages,’ as they are called, so if one does not want to go down by the ladders, one can only go in the box in which the quartz comes up, and as this is only two feet square and four feet deep, the journey by it would be decidedly uncomfortable.  At every eighty feet, I may mention, you come to a small wooden platform (or level) where you can rest, and from which branch off the cross cuts and drives, or narrow passages.  The depths of the different mines vary a great deal, Mysore being as low as 1,400 feet, the greatest depth sunk at present, while the least depth sunk is about 300 feet.  Ladies going underground have to wear suitable attire.  Skirts would be quite useless.  A long coat, or short skirt reaching to the knees, and knickerbockers, is the most comfortable dress for the occasion.  Very strong boots should be worn.

“Many of the miners and people employed in the gold fields have joined the Volunteers.  There is now quite a strong corps of about 100 men, some being Eurasians, but the majority are either English or Italians.  Once a year some ‘bigwig’ comes from Bangalore to review them.  There is a sergeant-instructor on the field, and the adjutant comes very frequently to see them drill, etc.

“Round the various large tanks about six or eight miles away from the mines excellent snipe shooting is to be had, and duck and teal are also to be found.  Spotted deer and bears are sometimes shot by sportsmen from the mines, but for those one must go further away.  The fishing is not considered to be very good, but perhaps those who fish do not know how to set to work.  The natives sometimes bring very large tank fish round for sale.

“Driving and riding are not very enjoyable, owing to the terribly bad state of the roads.  When the railway to the mines is opened, which it soon will be, I am happy to say, the roads will be better.  At present the heavy machinery for the mines, boilers, etc.—­sometimes taking sixty bullocks to draw them—­cut up the roads dreadfully.  These will of course come by rail directly the line is open for traffic.  The supplies, vegetables, fruit, etc., come from Bangalore three times a