Panna in Bundrikhand. 155 



if possible than those of Kamariya, then follows the diamond ma- 

 trix, which differs in no other respect from that of Kamariya or 

 Brijpur, except that it appears to contain a little more ferru- 

 ginous matter ; its pebbles are the same, its cement the same, 

 it has the same peculiarity of containing green quartz nodules 

 so highly esteemed as an augury by the natives, and its floor 

 is of the same description of sandstone. 



These mines vary in depth from twenty to fifty feet, and, 

 owing to the stratum of the matrix being thinner, (sometimes 

 scarcely a span thick,) they cannot be worked laterally as at 

 Kamariya, they are therefore more expensive, but their pro- 

 duce is said to cover the outlay and yield a profit. They are 

 consequently esteemed, and hold a reputation nearly equal to 

 those of Kamariya. 



Sakeriya Mines. — The kacha, or immature matrix, is ex- 

 cavated at the villages of Sakeriya and Udesna, both situated 

 on the counterscarp of the Panna hills. It contains rounded 

 pebbles of quartz, jasper, Lydianstone, &c.but with these are 

 mixed more recent pebbles of white sandstone. It contains 

 also much white quartz gravel, called by the natives detla, but 

 the cement of the conglomerate, instead of being silicious, is a 

 yellowish white clay, soft and plastic when in its natural bed, 

 but capable of acquiring the consistency of mortar when ex- 

 posed to the atmosphere, and when it contains ferruginous 

 matter it is considered a good sign. The quartz pebbles are 

 of the fat and greasy variety, and the green kind so much es- 

 teemed in the rocky matrix, is here entirely wanting. 



A shaft near Sakeriya which I examined, pierced through 

 the following beds 1st, eight feet vegetable soil ; 2d, eight 

 feet piri matti, or common kankar, imbedded in yellow clay ; 

 3d, four feet lalkakru, or red ironstone gravel in ferruginous 

 clay ; 4<th, two feet detla, or white quartz gravel ; next fol- 

 lowed sandstone, and then the kacha matrix. The thickness 

 of the detla stratum is here considered a matter of augury ; if 

 it is too thick it augurs ill, as it is then supposed that the stra- 

 tum of rnadda will be corrcspondently thin, or wanting altoge- 

 ther. It ought not to exceed two feet. 



Udesna Mines. — Near the village of Udesna, the same kind 

 <>l matrix underlies laterite, there called macha. The great 



