584 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 
Mr. Medlicott declines to believe in the instinct of the natives, 
as evinced by the capricious distribution of these surface 
diggings. There are many valleys in which the relation to the 
underlying rocks is such as to make it almost certain that the 
alluvial deposits contain diamonds, and yet there are no traces of 
workings. On the other hand, some of the workings prove the 
former extended range of the rock matrix which has been broken 
up by denudation. He believes further that the occasional 
occurrence of diamond-bearing deposits at higher levels than the 
original rock matrix may be accounted for by a distribution of 
the materials which took place under a general submergence of 
the country. 
The following account of the Panna mines, which seems to be 
well worthy of reproduction, I have extracted from an Indian 
Newspaper. Iam unable to give the author’s name. 
“The finances of the Maharaja are principally derived from his 
diamond and iron mines, and the following particulars as to how the 
mines are worked will prove interesting. 
“In granting licenses to natives the invariable rule of the Raja is to 
restrict the claim to diamonds below six ratéis in weight, on which a 
per-centage of Rs. 25 or upwards is charged. The party is then allowed 
to search in any spot within the territory, excepting such as are given to 
Brahmins for sacred purposes or are reserved for the Ranis or other 
relatives of the Chief. The mines of Kahmura and Panna are the most 
celebrated, and are excavated at adepth of 15 to 50 feet. They lie within 
the bounds of the rocky matrix. Those at Maggama have also been 
very imperfectly used, the mining not going below fifty feet, at which 
depth the water overflows, and the tuadars (or masters of the mines) are 
compelled to stop at this limit for want of a method to pump them dry. 
The chila and superficial mines are to be traced all over the diamond- 
tract, manual labour being cheap, as the poorest subjects of the State 
work them. From the commencement of the rains to the beginning 
of the cold season, the mining goes on, since a plentiful supply of water 
can be had in all parts of the State—an article highly necessary to 
facilitate the search, as the matrix, after being dug out, is placed by small 
quantities in a trench, and then washed to clear it of the clay which 
adheres to it. A spot on the surface of the mine is leeped smooth with 
the hand, and on it the granite is spread, and a diligent search made for 
the diamonds. Almost three-fourths of the people of Panna and the 
adjacent villages derive their living by working either for themselves or 
as hired labourers for others. When employed on their own account, it 
is not unusual to hear them complain of ‘no luck for months and 
months.’ Indeed, I never knew a native during the short time I was in 
the State, who said he had found a diamond, but I was told that the 
following is the way natives carry on when at the mines. The avarice 
