V4-Chapter 2

Chapter Two The Division of Labour

Because there was no mechanization and very little water, mining, and associated activities, were very labour intensive in the early days of the boom. Each activity had its dedicated operatives, the miners proper, the on-setters, banks-men and winch-men, and a host of other categories of workers dry dressing the hard-won ore.

The strength and endurance of both the surface and underground workers is to be marvelled at, yet they still had the energy to take bets on the teams of mules and donkeys trekking up and down the dusty tracks.

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Note: Whilst the author has tried to identify and attribute copyright holders to illustrations and photographs, she would be grateful for information about those where this has not been possible and would be glad to rectify any such omissions in future editions. She may be contacted on her site.