6 Munn, Ancient Mines and Megaliths in Hyderabad 



save a casual remark in Pliny (" Nat. Hist.," Book VI, 

 chap. xx.). 



It was, in fact, not until after 1888 that these old gold 

 mines were rediscovered, and the early efforts of the explorers 

 were watched with intense ridicule by the local Brahmin — 

 who never had had clearer proof of the Sahib's madness. 

 The difficulty which attended this prospecting was accen- 

 tuated by the fact that all the workings had been completely 

 filled up, and practically obliterated by the so-called black 

 cotton soil — an alluvial resulting from the decomposition of 

 the Deccan Trap. So that the surface indications were most 

 deluding and consisted of shallow depressions, associated 

 sometimes with chips of typical auriferous blue quartz, and 

 the remains of old metallurgical appliances on the adjacent 

 hard Trappoid rock. Costly excavations, therefore, alone 

 could tell whether the site chosen was a series of rabbit warren 

 workings, where the ancients followed some rich quartz 

 leader, or whether a valuable pay chute was going to be 

 disclosed. 



The obliteration of all surface indications has been most 

 tantalizing, and although the industry is represented at the 

 moment by only one working mine, my confidence in the 

 future discovery of other payable gold mines hidden below 

 the black cotton soil plain is in no way shaken. 



At Wondalli, Topaldodi, Oti Budini, Muski and Shora- 

 pur excavations of great age were opened up by the Hydera- 

 bad Deccan Company and its subsidiary companies. In each 

 instance the ancients had extracted all payable gold to a 

 considerable depth, and their methods of crushing were 

 evidenced in the large grinders or rollers of hard trappoid 

 or granite, which was rolled backwards and forwards in large 

 hollows or saucers in the trappoid rock. 



One of these " Mullackers " at Wondalli nullah must 

 have weighed a ton, and was probably actuated by poles 

 lashed to it. Everywhere cup-like hollows, undoubtedly 

 nothing but small mortars found in the rock where the gold 

 quartz was pounded with stone pestles and occasionally small 

 crucibles have been found which, on crushing, gave an assay 

 for gold. 3 Whether the miners possessed the knowledge of 

 amalgamation is a moot point. 



In the Hutti gold mines, discovered by Mr. F. W. Grey, 

 we have the most extraordinary evidence of the skill of these 

 ancient workers. There was little surface evidence at Hutti — 



3. I have often wondered whether some of the " cup markings " reported 

 by archaeologists are not identical with these, and originally used for the 

 same purpose. The Indian ryot recognises what they are, and even to-day 

 uses them if they happen to be near his field. 



