AVIFAUNA OF CHOTA NAGPUE. 361 



These two rivers, and their continuation the Brahmini, traverse 

 a wild inhospitable area of jungle of the natural productions in 

 which but little is yet known. 



The last rain-basin to be mentioned is that of the Mahanadi, 

 the feeders of which drain the south-west corner of the Division. 

 The principal of these feeders are the Eeb, Mand, and Gej. 

 Below the junction of the Eeb with the Mahanadi occur 

 sands in which gold and diamonds have been found. The 

 occurrence of the former is so general that it need not call for 

 any special remark ; but the observed fact in reference to the 

 diamonds is of especial interest when it is known that rocks 

 belonging to the same general formation as that to which most 

 of the known diamond strata are referred in India were dis- 

 covered by Mr. Medlicott in that vicinity. The search for/ 

 diamonds has not been carried on with activity for many years. 

 But there are stories of large stones having been found 

 formerly in the Mahanadi. Mr. Blochmann tells me that some 

 old Mahomedan histories represent their having been found 

 also in the Sunk. About 100 years ago a gentleman was 

 deputed by the Government to make special enquiries regarding 

 the occurrence of diamonds in the Mahanadi. The country 

 was then in such a disturbed state that most of his time was 

 taken up in repelling attacks of hostile natives, and during 

 the remainder he suffered much from fever, losing several 

 of his companions and followers who succumbed to the disease. 

 His narrative of a journey to the diamond mines at Sam- 

 balpur in the Province of Orissa, undertaken in 1766, is 

 printed in the Asiatic Annual Register for 1799. It does not 

 appear that he was very successful in reference to the objects of 

 his deputation.* In the Journal of the Asiatic Society there is 

 a paper by Colonel Ousely on the washings for gold and 

 diamonds in the Mahanadi at Sambalpur. 



Having above pointed out the more prominent physical 

 features of the Division, I shall now endeavor to give a 

 sketch of the geological structure. My remarks on this subject 

 here must necessarily be very brief. Those interested in the 

 geology will naturally refer to the accounts published in the 

 Memoirs and Records of the Geological Survey. 



Metamorphic rocks occur as the basal formation throughout. 

 They consist of gneiss — which is sometimes excessively granitic 

 or s} r enitic and without a trace of foliation — hornblendic and 

 mica-schists and quartzites. 



* The object of this deputation was to establish a regular trade in diamonds, Lord 

 Clive wishing to employ them as a convenient means of remitting money to England. 



