﻿DIAMOND MINES. 



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vein ceases, thsy split the rocks still further by fire, and thus 

 recover the vein, or find another. These veins frequently extend 

 a quarter of a mile. 



The value and beauty of the diamond are greatest when it is so per- 

 fectly clear that the stone itself is scarcely discerned, but only the 

 brilliant ray of light which its polished surface reflects. It is then 

 called a diamond of the first water ; so called from the fact that it 

 resembles a drop of pure spring water. 



The value of these gems being very great, and the secreting of 

 them easy, the miners are obliged to work quite naked. There are 

 persons on the watch, also, to prevent any diamonds being con- 

 cealed. The famous diamond of the Great Mogul was found in the 

 neighborhood of Gani or Coulour, about seven days' journey from 

 Golconda. This mine was discovered one hundred and fifty years 

 ago, by a peasant, who was digging, and met with a diamond of 

 twenty-five carats' weight. That of the Great Mogul weighed, 

 before it was cut, nearly eight hundred carats. It is not common to 

 find them above the weight of from ten to forty. There are fre- 

 quently sixty thousand persons employed at this mine. When they 

 find a spot which appears likely to afford diamonds, they begin, in 

 some place near at hand, to form a cistern, or pool with clay; into 

 this is brought the earth which the men have dug out of the ap- 

 pointed spot. Here, with water, they loosen the earth, and permit 

 the lighter mud to run off. The stony substances which remain 

 after the earthy particles are washed away, are sifted, and then ex- 

 amined in a bright noon-day light, which is reflected by the dia- 

 monds, and exposes them at once. Those who are accustomed to 

 the business can sometimes detect the diamonds by the nice feeling 

 of their fingers. 



The river Succudan, in the island of Borneo, is said to abound in 

 diamonds ; but strangers are not permitted to go thither. Now and 

 then, however, by great cunning and caution, some very excellent 

 stones have been obtained by the Dutch, and sold at Batavia. 



Diamonds were first found in Brazil in 1728. The negroes, 

 who were condemned to search for gold, often found, among the 

 sand and gravel, little bright stones, which, after examination, 

 proved to be diamonds of very great value. The place is called 



