100 M. Voysey on the Diamond Mines of Southern India, 



formed the beds of these rivers, gave passage to the accumu- 

 lated waters of some vast lakes situated near the outlets. 



The tortuous passage of the Kistna, for upwards of 70 

 miles, is bounded by lofty and precipitous banks, which, in 

 some places, rise to 1000 feet above its bed ; the opposite sides 

 of the chasm corresponding in an exact manner. Ravines of 

 this description are not unfrequent all over the range, and the 

 exact correspondence of their opposite salient and re-entering 

 angles, together with the abruptness of their origin, totally 

 preclude the supposition of their being hollowed out by the 

 action of running water. 



Two of these remarkable chasms occur on the western road 

 to the shrine of Maha Deo at Sri Sailam, and would be totally 

 impassable to travellers, but for the once magnificent causeway 

 and steps which wind down the precipice. 



The only rock of this formation in which the diamond is 

 found is the sandstone breccia. I have as yet only visited the 

 rock mines of Banganpalli, a village situated about twelve 

 miles west of the town of Nandiala. 



The low range of hills in which these mines are situated 

 appear distinct from the main range, but a junction of the 

 north and south extremities may be traced with great facility. 



The breccia is here found under a compact sandstone rock, 

 differing in no respect from that which is found in other parts 

 of the main range. It is composed of a beautiful mixture of 

 red and yellow jasper, quartz, chalcedony, and hornstone of 

 various colours, cemented together by a quartz paste. It pas- 

 ses into a pudding-stone composed of rounded pebbles of quartz, 

 hornstone, &c. &c. cemented by an argillo-calcareous earth of 

 a loose friable texture, in which the diamonds are most fre- 

 quently found. 



Some writers have miscalled this rock amygdaloid or wacken, 

 and have described these mines as being situated on conical 

 summits of that rock. The truth is, that the conical summits 

 are artificial, and owe their origin to the sifting of the pound- 

 ed breccia and pudding-stone, for the purpose of separating 

 the larger stones preparatory to their being wetted and exa- 

 mined. 



The hill itself is quite flat, and not a single conical elevation 



