The Occurrence and Distribution of Diamonds in India. 575 
As is usual, I believe, in all parts of India, the diamonds were 
classed, as follows :— 
1—Brahman.—White, pure water. I1.—Kshatrya.—Rose or 
reddish. III.—Vasiya—Smoky. IV.—Sudra.—Dark and im- 
pure. 
With regard to the origin of the Sambalpur diamonds, the geolo- 
gical structure of the country leaves but little room for doubt as to 
the source from whence they are derived. Coincident with their 
occurrence is that of a group of rocks, which has been shown to 
be referable to the Vindhyan series, certain members of which 
series.are found in the vicinity of all the known diamond-yielding 
localities in India, and in the cases of actual rock-workings, are 
found to include the matrix of the gems. 
In several of the previous accounts, the belief is either stated 
or implied that the diamonds are brought into the Mahanadi by 
its large tributary the Ebe. It would not, of course, help the 
point | am endeavouring to establish as to their origin, to say 
that the Ebe, at least within our area, except indirectly,* is not 
fed by waters which pass over Vindhyan rocks, but I have the 
positive assurance of the natives that diamonds have not been 
found in that river, although gold is and has been regularly 
washed for. On the other hand, diamonds have been found in 
the bed of the Mahanadi as far west as Chanderpur, and at other 
intermediate places, well within the area which is exclusively 
occupied by the quartzites, shales, and limestones of Vindhyan 
age. 
The fact that the place, Hira Khund, where the diamonds were 
washed is on metamorphic rocks, may be readily explained by 
the physical features of the ground. The rocky nature of the 
bed there, and the double channel caused by the island, afforded 
unusual facilities for, in the first place, the retention of the 
diamonds brought down by the river; and secondly, fur the 
operations by which the bed could on one side be laid bare, and 
the gravel washed by the simple contrivances known to the 
natives. 
It is impossible to say at present which the actual bed or beds 
of rock may be from whence the diamonds have been derived, as 
there is no record or appearance of the rock ever having been 
* By afew small streams which rise in an isolated outlying hill, called Gotwaki, 
