Cjpt. Franklin's Memoir on Bundelkhund. 277 



MINES, MINERALS, AND MANUFACTURES. 



The diamond mines of Bundelkhund have long been famous ; they are 

 situated on the table land between the first and second ranges of hills near 

 Pannd, and extend from the Khi river eastward as far as the Child nadi ; 

 and it is perhaps worthy of note, that beyond these limits no diamonds are 

 found. They are the exclusive property of the Rcijd of Pannd ; but adven- 

 turers may dig for them if they chuse to pay the expenses, and a tax of one- 

 fourth of the produce to the Rqjd. The mines, however, are so much 

 exhausted, that this privilege is rarely accepted, and is oftener attended with 

 disappointment than gain. The diamonds are found in a red gravelly soil, 

 at various depths below the surface, from three to fifteen feet, but generally 

 at three or four feet, and they are separated from the soil by washing and 

 sifting it ; the diamond is of the table or flat kind, and is rarely found 

 perfect. 



The iron mines are contiguous to the former, the Ktn river being the line 

 of separation between them ; they are said to be inexhaustible, though at 

 present they are but partially worked by a few adventurers, who pay a 

 certain sum, varying from four to seven rupees a season, for each furnace. 

 The otiier expenses consist in digging the ore, which is obtained close to 

 the surface, and in the preparation of charcoal ; and so simple is the first 

 process, that the metal in its earliest stage can be purchased at the mines for 

 one rupee twelve anas per maund. When taken from the mines, it under- 

 goes a second and sometimes a third refinement, under more skilful hands, 

 in which state it usually comes to market. 



The miners are generally of the Gmd, or other hill tribes, who prefer a 

 wretched subsistence in these barren regions to the plains below ; and in 

 times of scarcity, numerous robberies are committed by them. If, there- 

 fore, a small capital were judiciously employed in working these mines, and 

 means of constant employment afforded to these people, great beneficial 

 results might be expected in a philanthropic point of view ; and in this light 

 it might be worthy the attention of the British government, as the produce 

 would serve to supply their magazines and arsenals. 



The manufactures peculiar to Bundelkhund are a coarse kind of cloth, 

 which is stained red by a colour extracted from the root of the Morinda 

 cilrifolia, or aa/ plant, much cultivated in some parts of the province. Gdrautd 

 and K6trd are tlie chief places of this manufiicture, but Cdlpi is the usual 



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