220 W. BLANFORD, WESTERN INDIA. [PaRT III. 



away portions of the agate bed. The holes were barely large enough 

 for a man to get through squatting, more Indico, or on all-fours. The 

 process for developing the colour of the agates has been described by 

 Mr. Copeland.* The agates are chipped at the mine, and those con- 

 sidered good are taken to Ruttunpoor and exposed to the sun. They 

 are subsequently burned in earthem pots and then chipped again to 

 ascertain if they are properly colouredj after which they are sold to the 

 lapidaries. 



The mines faU in during the monsoon, when they are not worked. 

 They are rented by the Rajpeepla Raja to a Mussahnan of Cambay 

 for Rs. SjOOO a year. Formerly they are said to have produced more. 



Some agates are obtained from other beds, or picked up in the 

 nullahs, but the greater portion are derived from the Ruttunpoor mines. 



* Trans. Lit. Soc, Bombay, Vol. I, p. 289 : Geological Papers on Western India, p. 491. 



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