572 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 
with; but the evidence on this point is somewhat conflicting. Ido 
not think, however, that what we know is altogether consistent 
with the statement in the Gazetteer, that “the best stones ever 
found here were thin and flat, with flaws in them.” 
Local tradition speaks of one large diamond, which was found 
during the Maharatta occupation. Its size made its discovery too 
notorious; otherwise it would in all probability, like many other 
smaller ones, found at that time, never have reached the hands of 
the Maharatta agent. It is said to have weighed two tolas and 
two mashas (at ten mashas to the tola)* which would be about 
3162 grains troy, or expressed in carats 99'°3. It would be impos- 
sible, of course; to make any estimate of the value of a rough 
stone of this size, regarding the purity, colour, &e., of which 
nothing is known.+ Another diamond, in the possession of Narain 
Singh, is said to have weighed about a tola, the equivalent of 
which, calculated as above, would be 45°35 carats. Already one 
of 16°5 carats has been mentioned as having been sent to Cal- 
cutta in 1766. One large, but slightly flawed diamond, which I 
saw in the possession of a native in Sambalpur, was valued in 
Calcutta, after cutting, at Rs. 2,500. Mr. Emanuel, in his work 
on “Diamonds and Precious Stones,” gives some particulars 
regarding the diamonds of Sambalpur, but the limited information 
at his disposal does not appear to have been very accurate. He 
records one diamond of 84 grains having been found within the 
period of British rule, but does not mention his authority. There 
are said to be a good many diamonds still in the hands of the 
wealthier natives in Sambalpur. Of course, large diamonds such 
as those above mentioned, are of exceptional occurrence ; those 
ordinarily found are said to have weighed, however, two to four 
rutties, equal on an average, say, to the thirtieth part of a tola, or 
47 grains = 1°48 carats. In the Geological Museum at Calcutta 
there is at present a diamond which was sent to the Asiatic 
Society of Bengal, from Sambalpur, by Major Ouseley. It weighs 
only °855 grains='26 carats. 
* (One masha=14'37 grains troy): properly speaking there are 12 mashas in a standard 
tola. 
{ Tavernier’s method of ascertaining the value of any diamond was to square the 
number of carats, and then multiply the result by the value of a one-carat stone of equal 
purity. 
