574 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 
worked; but from the general lithological resemblance of the 
sandstones and shales of the Barapahar hills, and the outlier at 
Borla, with the diamond-bearing beds, and their associates at 
Panna in Bhandelkand, and Banaganpilli in Karnul, I have very 
little hesitation in pointing to these rocks as in all probability in- 
cluding the matrix. Above Padampur, the Mahanadi runs 
through rocks of this age, and I should therefore strongly urge 
upon any one who may hereafter embark upon the undertaking 
of searching for diamonds in Sambalpur, to confine his operations, 
in the first instance, to the streams and small rivers which rise in 
the Barapahar hills, and join the Mahanadi on the south. Besides 
the obvious advantage of being—as I believe would be found to 
be the case—close to the matrix, these streams, would, I think, 
be found to contain facilities for obtaining a sufficient head of 
water for washing purposes. Such works would require but a 
few labourers, and could be carried on for a much longer period 
every year, say altogether for eight or nine months, than would 
be possible in the case of the washings in the bed of the Mahanadi 
itself. 
According to the accounts received by me, the southern channel 
of the Mahanadi used not to be emptied in the Raja’s time; but 
from various causes I should expect it to yield, proportionately, a 
larger number of diamonds than the northern. In the first place, 
the stronger current in it would be more efficient in removing the 
substances of less specific gravity than diamonds, while the rocks 
and deep holes in it afford admirable means for the retention of 
the latter. Owing to the greater body of water to be dealt with, 
it would be found to be more difficult to divert than that which 
flows in the northern channel; but the result in a greater harvest 
of diamonds would probably far more than compensate for the 
greater expenditure incurred. 
In the country to the south of Sambalpur, in Karial and Now- 
agarh, where rocks of similar age occur to those of the Barapahar 
hills. I have failed to find any traditional record of diamonds 
having ever been found or searched for. It is just possible, how- 
ever, that the names of several villages in which the word Hira 
(diamond) occurs, may have reference to some long-forgotten 
discovery. 
In addition to diamonds—pebbles of beryl, topaz, carbuncle, 
