The Collaborative International Dictionary
Tributer
Tributer \Trib"u*ter\, n. (Mining) One who works for a certain portion of the ore, or its value.
Note: Tributers generally work in gangs, and have a limited
portion of a lode set them, called a tribute pitch,
beyond which they are not permitted to work, and for
which they receive a certain portion of the ore, or so
much per pound, as agreed upon, of the value of what
they raise.
--Weale.
Wiktionary
tributer
n. (context mining UK English) A miner who is paid in a certain portion of the ore, or its value.