On the Occurrence and Distribution of Gold in India. 545 
They are occasionally attacked by bands of robbers who carry 
off their gold. 
Sir Henry Rawlinson’s remarks on these reports of the Pundits’ 
researches and travels are as follows :—* 
“ Now, then, for the first time, we have an explanation of the cir- 
cumstances under which so large a quantity of gold is, as is well known 
to be the case, exported to the west from Khoten, and finds its way into 
India from Thibet ; and it is probable that the search for gold in this 
region has been going on from a very remote antiquity, since no one 
can read the ex-Pundit’s account of the Thibetan miners ‘living in tents 
some seven or eight feet below the surface of the ground, and collecting 
the excavated earth in heaps previous to washing the gold out of the 
soil,’ without being reminded of the description which Herodotus gives 
of the ‘ants in the land of the Indians bordering on Kaspatyrus (or 
Kasmir) which made their dwellings underground, and threw up sand 
heaps as they burrowed, the sand which they threw up being full of 
gold.’” 
Professor Schiern points out that the tradition was mentioned 
in writings of the middle ages, and those by Arabian authors. It 
survived among the Turks. Straboand Albertus Magnus treated 
the whole story asa fiction. Xivrey supposed that the animals 
had become extinct owing to the awiz sacra fames. Major 
Rennell supposed that the dwellers in mounds were termites or 
white ants. Humboldt’s observations in Mexico on the habit 
of certain ants to carry about shining particles of hyalith was 
quoted by those who believed that the animals were really ants. 
Other autuorities suggested that they were marmots, jackals, 
foxes, or hyenas. Pliny having stated that horns of the Indian 
ant were preserved in the temple of Hercules at Erythice—Samuel 
Wahl, who maintained the hysena theory, proved equal to the 
difficulty by suggesting that the horns might have been a lusus 
nature, 
Professor Schiern most ingeniously argues that the horns had 
been taken from the skins of animals which formed the garments 
of the miners. 
I may, perhaps, add to the evidence given on this subject by 
Professor Schiern, that I have seen bullock horns worn as a head 
decoration by a tribe (the Khonds) in India, and, indeed, I possess ° 
a photograph of an individual so adorned. 
Professor Schiern further points out that ancient writers say 
* Pall Mall Gazette, March 16, 1869, quoted in “‘ Indian Antiquary,” Vol. IV., p. 225. 
Scien. Proc. R.D.S. Vow. u., Pr. vi. 20 
