408 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO I677. 



go no deeper, although the vein lies lower. All the lumps of the mineral they 

 break in pieces, and often find diamonds enclosed in them. The earth they 

 dig out is red : many large stones are found here ; the smallest about 6 in a 

 mangelleen. They are of mixed waters, but the most part good, only of dis- 

 agreeable shapes, many cragged pieces of stones, some as if they had been 

 parts of very large ones, others with pieces broken ofF. 



In Langumboot they dig as they do at Wazzergerree and Munnemurg ; the 

 rock is not altogether so solid, but the earth and stones it produces much alike. 

 Wootoor lies near Currure, and affords stones of a like magnitude, shapes and 

 waters. It is employed only for the king's use: and singular, in that its dia- 

 monds are found in black earth. 



Muddemurg far exceeds all the rest for diamonds of a delicate shape, water, 

 and bright transparent coat ; yet it has also many veiny ones, but those likewise 

 of so curious shape and water, that it is difficult to discover them from the 

 good, especially the small ones. It produces stones of divers magnitudes, from 

 10 and 12 in a mangelleen, to 6 or 7 mangelleens each, besides some large 

 ones. The earth is red, but seated in the woods, and the water so bad, that 

 to all, except the people bred there, it presently occasions fevers and destroys 

 abundance, insomuch that it is forsaken. Yet it has been more profitable 

 than any of the rest, the vein frequently lying near the superficies of the earth, 

 seldom running deep, and is better furnished than any other yet discovered. 



Mellwillee, or the New Mine, has its earth very red, and many of the stones 

 found there are generally well-shaped, their size from 5 or 6 in a mangelleen 

 to those of 14 or 15 each, and some larger; but greatest numbers of the 

 middle size. Most of them have a thick dull skin, inclining to a yellowish 

 water, not altogether so strong and lively as of the other mines; very few of 

 them of a crystalline water and coat. They are reported to be apt to flaw in 

 splitting. Several that promise by their seeming whiteness when rough, dis- 

 cover their deceitfulness after passing the mill, and too often have a yellowish 

 tincture. 



Visiapore is known to contain mines enclosing stones as large and good as 

 those of Golconda ; but the king, for reasons already given, makes use but of 

 the meanest : whereby, as Golconda is famous for the largeness of those it 

 affords, Visiapore is noted for the smallest ; whose mines, though they seldom 

 or never render an adventurer a fortune or estate at once, as sometimes those 

 of Golconda do, by a great stone, or several found together; yet they are 

 more populous and better employed, the small stones lying thicker in the earth, 

 so that the generality are gainers, and few but they get their expence; whereas 

 those of Golconda dig away a considerable fortune and find nothing, others 

 not their charges, and where one is a gainer, several lose. 



