1881.] V. Ball — Additional note on the ancient diamond mines. 221 



gos, of four French leagues each. He crossed a river, that formed the 

 common boundary of Golconda and Visiapour, about 4 gos, or more, before 

 he came to Raolconda : and this river can be no other than the Beemah ; 

 which, to this day, forms the eastern boundary of Visiapour ; and passes 

 80 or 82 G. miles to the west of Golconda, crossing the road from it to 

 Ralicotte. If we reckon the 82 miles, 13 gos : that is, forming a scale 

 from the distance between Golconda and the river Beemah, each gos will be 

 6*3 G. miles in horizontal distance (or nearer three than four French 

 leagues) ; and Raolconda will be placed about 25 G. miles on the west of 

 the Beemah ; or 11, east of Ralicotte*. 



" If we take the gos at four French leagues, without regarding the 

 proportion arising from the above calculation, it will bring Raolconda very 

 near the situation assigned it by Montresor. But I have nevertheless 

 adopted the former, thinking it, on the whole, the most consistent. Ca3sar 

 Frederick says, that the mines (Raolconda) are six days' journey from 

 Bisnagur: but this will apply equally to either of the above positions." 



To which may be added that it will also suit the position of Ramul- 

 kota which is under 110 miles, but in a different direction altogether, namely, 

 slightly north of east instead of nearly due north. Caesar Frederick's 

 original statement as translated by Thomas Hickockef is as follows : " Five 

 days' journey (not six) from Bezeneger (i. e. Bijayanagar) is the place 

 where they get diamants. I was not there but it was told me that it wa3 

 a great place, compassed with a wall, and that they sell the earth within 

 the wall for so much a squadron, and the limits are set how deepe or how 

 low they shall digge. Those diamants that are of a certain size and 

 bigger than that size are all for the king, it is many years agone since they 

 got any there." 



Elsewhere he says that the diamonds from this region were called 

 cliiappe to distinguish them from those from Delly and Iaua ( = Java ?). 

 Gant Coulour of Tavernier. With reference to this mine, which is 

 famous for having produced the great Mogul Diamond, Mr. King thinks 

 that I have fully established its identity with the modern Kollur on the 

 Kistna. Indeed had a doubt remained it would have been fully dispelled 

 by a further route to Masulipatam from Golconda given separately by 

 Tavernier, and which passes through Kollur or the so-called Gani. 



So far as he has been able, Mr. King has offered the following identifi. 

 cations of the localities mentioned in Tavernier's previously quoted itinerary. 

 Montecour = ? Moonoogodoo, Lat. 17° 6" N. Long. 79° T 25". 

 Nagelpar = Nagoolpad, Lat. 17° N. Long. 79° 42'. 

 Savaron = Surrawaram, Lat. 16° 52' 30" Long. 79°-5i' 30'. 

 Mellaserou = Mailacheroo. 



* P = Tehcotte in the Kaladgi district. 

 f Hakluyt's Voyages, p. 221. 

 29 



