A sluice like this was a common sight on the Irrawaddy River north of Bhamo. The bottom of a sluice has ridges which tend to catch the heavy gold grains while lighter material is washed away. This is a simple piece of equipment, cheap and easy to build, and fairly effective. It is hard work when muscles put the sand into the sluice and add the water. Some miners had pumps and pipes to eliminate lifting water, but they had additional expenses too.