The Occurrence and Distribution of Diamonds in India. 575 
amethyst, cornelian, and clear quartz, used to be collected in the 
Mahanadi; but I have not seen either sapphires or rubies. It is 
probable that the matrix of these, or most of them, exists in the 
metamorphic rocks, and is, therefore, distinct from that of the 
diamonds. 
Method of working—From personal enquiry from the oldest of 
the Jhiras, or washers at the village of Jnunan, and from various 
other sources, I have gathered the following details as to the 
manner ir which the operations were carried on in the Raja’s 
time :—In the centre of the Mahanadi, near Jhunan, there is an 
island, called Hira Khund,* which is about four miles long, and 
for that distance separates the waters of the river into two 
channels. In each year, about the beginning of March or even 
later, when other work was slack and the level of the water was 
approaching its lowest, a large number of people,—according to 
some of my informants, as many as five thousand, Tavernier 
(vide supra) said 8,000 in his time,—assembled and raised an 
embankment across the mouth of the northen channel, its share 
of water being thus deflected into the southern. In the stagnant 
pools left in the former, sufficient water remained to enable the 
washers to wash the gravel accumulated between the rocks in 
their rude wooden trays and cradles. Upon women seems to 
have fallen the chief burden of the actual washing, while the 
men collected the stuff. The implements employed and the 
method of washing were similar to those commonly adopted in 
gold-washing, save only that the finer gravel was not thrown 
away until it had been thorougaly searched for diamonds. At 
least I was given so to understand, but Tavernier’s account of this 
part of the process is probably correct. Whatever gold was 
found became the property of the washer, as already stated, 
Those who were so fortunate as to find a valuable stone were 
rewarded by being given a village. According to some accounts, 
the washers generally held their villages and lands rent-free ; but 
I think it most unlikely that all who were engaged in the oper- 
ations should have done so. So far as I could gather, the people 
did not regard their (in a manner) enforced services as involving 
any great hardship; they gave me to understand that they would 
* Lit. Diamond mine, 
