1834.] System of Diving for Valuables in the Deccan. 45 



IX. — A Brief Account of the System adopted by Divers in the Deccan, for 

 the Recovery of Valuables, lost in the Tanks and Rivers of that Pro- 

 vince. By Lieut. G. J. Taylor, 1th Mad. Lt. Cav. 

 Happening to lose a valuable diamond ring when swimming some 

 years since in a tank in the Deccan, I was induced to employ a set of 

 divers for its recovery : not, I confess, with much hopes of success, not- 

 withstanding the confident tone in which I was assured they seldom or 

 never failed in their search. I was however most agreeably disappoint- 

 ed, for after seven hours' labour, the ring was found. As the mode which 

 they adopted, for the recovery of the lost article, was new to me, and 

 may possibly be unknown to many of your readers, I venture to forward 

 the following brief sketch of their proceedings. The head of the set I 

 employed, and who eventually was successful in his search, was a cele- 

 brated diver in that part of India. He wore a beautiful gold bangle on 

 his right arm — a present from the Peshwa Bajeb Rao for having reco- 

 vered a valuable emerald from the Tapti river, which that prince had 

 dropped in crossing the stream. He assured me, that although a most 

 laborious and sometimes painful trade, he had usually found it a lu- 

 crative occupation. 



I may add that I subsequently saw the same mode adopted, on various 

 occasions, for the recovery of the nose ornament*, ear-rings, and other 

 jewels lost by women when bathing on the ghats of the great rivers and 

 banks in that part of the country, and almost always with success. 

 Their method is as follows : 



A set of divers consists of three persons, two of whom dive by turns, 

 while the third sits on the adjoining bank. The two divers wade to 

 the place pointed out, if within their depth, each carrying with him a 

 circular flat-bottomed wooden basin, with sloping sides, about seven 

 inches deep and two and a half feet in diameter With this the diver 

 descends, and having scooped into it as much of the surface of the 

 mud or sand as it will contain, ascends with the platter and sends it 

 ashore, where its contents are carefully washed and examined by a third 

 person. If the water be not deep, when one man has stooped under 

 water, he is kept down by his partner, placing one foot upon his neck 

 or shoulders, until the platter is filled, on which a signal is made, the 

 foot is withdrawn, and the man rises to the surface. But when the 

 depth of water will not admit of such arrangement, the diver sinks 

 a grapnel or heavy stone from a canoe, and then descends by the rope. 

 When he ascends, the platter is lifted into the boat, and there examin- 

 ed. In this way, they continue to work for hours, each diver descend- 

 ing in turn, until they have examined the whole surface of the mud or 

 sand around the place pointed out, and very seldom fail of success 

 if ordinary information be only afforded, as to the spot near which the 



