160 Captain Franklin on the Diamond Mines of 



so is the spheroidal, arising apparently from the convexity of 

 its faces, and the obtuseness of its edges, the average price of 

 this class is thirty Srinagari rupees, for diamonds of one retti 

 weight, 35 for two, 40 for three, 45 for four, and 50 for those 

 of five retti weight. 



3d, Sambarra and Charchara : these are they which have 

 given rise to the belief that the Panna mines produced only table 

 diamonds ; the specimens I saw were quite irregular in their 

 crystalline form, appearing as if they had been broken by a 

 violent blow ; but they invariably cleave into thin tabular la- 

 minae, and, as they are generally of a good water, and sell for 

 a low price in comparison with the others, the Panna jewellers 

 appear to find it more profitable to work them up, by setting 

 them in rings or other ornaments ; their one retti price is 

 twenty rupees, increasing according to weight as above stated. 

 4>th, Bengala pashmi, Pira and Matta : these are yellow- 

 ish green, yellow, and clove brown, and their crystalline form 

 is multiform, the price of the one retti gem is fifteen rupees, 

 increasing as above. 



5ih, Rekatberar : this is the rose-coloured variety, its cry- 

 stalline form is also multiform, it is not esteemed, and its sin- 

 gle retti price is twelve rupees. 



6th, Kala, Garas, or Jalidar : the first is black or very 

 dark brown, and the second, as its name implies, includes all 

 diamonds that are flawed or appear to contain filaments like 

 a spider's web : these varieties are here termed Kaffiya, or scum, 

 but in England they are called bort, and there they are used 

 in the arts for diamond dust to an extent unknown in this 

 country, their price varies according to the size of the stones; 

 but as they seldom, if ever, exceed one retti weight, the worst 

 kind may be purchased for eight, and the best for ten rupees 

 the retti. 



The above list contains the principal names classed accord- 

 ing to their relative value; but there are others, apparently 

 founded on fancy alone, a recital of which would embarrass 

 rather than throw light on the subject ; the prices also must 

 be considered variable, a purchaser coming suddenly into the 

 market would as infallibly occasion a rise, as a deficiency of 

 demand would create a depression ; a purchaser therefore should 



