The  exports  consist  of  cotton,  tobacco,  lumber  in  vast  quantities,  tar,
pitch,  turpentine,  &c.  &c.  They  amounted  in  1831,  to  $341,140.  This
does  not,  however,  present  a  fair  estimate  of  exports,  compared  with  that
of  the  other  States,  as  a  large  portion  is  shipped  from  Charleston.  The
gold  mines  of  North  Carolina  have  lately  excited  much  interest,  and  with
those  of  the  other  southern  States,  are  becoming  an  object  of  national
importance.  The  number  of  persons  engaged  in  mining  operations  in  the
whole  of  the  gold  district,  is  estimated  at  upwards  of  26,000 ;  the  weekly


264


GENERAL  VIEW  OF


product  of  all  the  mines  is  supposed  to  be  $100,000,  or  about  5  millions
of  dollars  annually  ;  but  a  small  proportion  of  this,  however,  is  sent  to  the
United  States'  mint,  or  remains  in  the  country  :  the  greater  part  is  exported
to  Europe,  particularly  to  Paris.  In  this  State,  the  gold  mines  are  princi-
pally in  the  counties  of  Burke,  Rutherford,  Mecklenburg,  Rowan,  David-
son, and  Cabarras ;  in  almost  any  part  of  this  district,  gold  may  be  found
in  greater  or  less  abundance  mixed  with  the  soil.  It  exists  .in  grains  or
masses  from  almost  imperceptible  particles,  to  pieces  of  one  or  two  pounds
weight ;  one  of  the  largest   lumps  ever  found,  was  dug  up  in  Cabarras

county it  was  worth  between  7  and  8000  dollars.    Lumps  from  the  value

of  1  or  200  to  1000  dollars,  are  not  uncommon.  There  are  innumerable
dio-o-ings  over  the  whole  country,  and  a  host  of  adventurers,  relinquishhig
alfother  employments,  are  digging  the  hill-sides  for  gold.  The  opening
of  the  mines  indubitably  proves  that  they  were  known  in  past  ages  ;  cru-
cibles and  other  mining  instruments  have  been  repeatedly  discovered  under
circumstances  to  preclude  the  possibility  of  their  having  been  left  there  by
descendants  of  the  European  races.  This  region  is  believed  to  be  more
abundant  in  gold  than  any  other  on  the  globe.  The  inhabitants  of  this
State,  in  general,  have  a  marked  character  for  sobriety  and  morahty,  and
a  sturdiness  of  independence ;  they  are  endeavoring  to  remedy  past  neglect
of  common  schools,  by  fostering  private  seminaries  and  Sunday-schools.
