358 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [ANNO 1798. 



line. A fine view of the river is seen near Erode • which fort, as well as Sanker- 

 droog, are plainly visible with the naked eye, as is also the Coimbitoor country, south 

 and west of the river, to an immense extent. 



" I procured, at Permetty, a cadjan from the Bramin manager to the head man 

 of the pollam ; which, on my arrival at the pits, I sent to him ; and soon after 3 

 of the miners came from the pollam, with their implements, and families follow- 

 ing with provisions. As they came up, they enquired of my servant how they were 

 to address me, having never seen a European before. I followed them into a pit, 

 in the line of the excavation, above 14 feet from the ground-level. The instru- 

 ment they used is a heavy iron crow, ending in a broad point, with a straight 

 wooden handle, clampt with iron. The soil they cut through is of different co- 

 lours, but composed chiefly of a gritty granite ; and at the depth of 7 feet are 

 layers of a substance not unlike dried pitch, which crumbles into small flakes when 

 taken out. With considerable labour, the miners, with the points of their crows, 

 cut out several pieces of the strata, of some pounds weight each ; and when a con- 

 siderable quantity was broken off", it was carried up and crushed to pieces, with 

 great force, by the iron crow. Among these broken lumps, the corundum stone is 

 found ; but in many of the pieces there was none. The mode of getting it made 

 it difficult to get any with the stratum adhering to it ; this however, after several 

 trials, I obtained very perfect, and shall forward to Madras, with specimens of the 

 strata at different depths. The stone is beyond all comparison heavier than the 

 substance which encrusts it. 



" It appears extraordinary how this stone, so concealed, should under such diffi- 

 culties have been sought for, and applied to any purpose ; and that the knowledge 

 of the few people who dig for it, and who do so from father to son, is confined 

 entirely to the finding the stone. For they told me they knew none of its uses, 

 and that the labour was so hard, and their gain so small, that they would, through 

 choice, rather work in the fields ; that the sale of it from the spot is confined 

 solely to the glass sellers, who vend it over the whole country, and who had, while 

 I was there, above 40 parriar horses, bullocks, &c. ready in the pollam, to carry it 

 to Tinnevelly, and the southern countries ; through which track, if the stone is 

 known in Europe, I apprehend it has found its way by means of the Dutch. The 

 people on the spot declare it is to be got in no other situation or place whatever ; 

 and the stone-cutters tell me they can do nothing without it. It pays no duty, 

 either where dug up or retailed. The colour of the stone is either very light 

 brown or purplish, in the proportion of 20 to 1 of the latter ; but in use no pre- 

 ference is given, and they are used equally. To an indifferent person, the most 

 striking circumstance is its great weight. 



" As the spot I have been speaking of now composes a part of the Company's 

 territories, the most minute information on the subject may be acquired. I felt 

 particular satisfaction in being the first European who was ever at the place ; and I 

 shall be much gratified if the account given meets with your approbation. I shall 



