1834.] in the Eastern Districts of Mysore. 469 



near Uscotta, Sattiar, Suluvehelly, and Jangamcotta, an extent of 

 nearly twenty miles. Again, with respect to the Pal-aur, I noticed 

 that I had lately traced it through similar hills towards the centre of the 

 province of Colar. From this I concluded that all such hills in this 

 neighbourhood might be alike impregnated. with the golden ore, and 

 be the original mines where it was created. I accordingly determined 

 on following up the tract in which they lay, and examining the stratum 

 near every one of them up to certain high grounds near Rondur Papan- 

 helly, where they seem to terminate. 



The small hill north of Daseracottapilly* being of this description, it 

 naturally became the first subject of investigation. Having now collect- 

 ed a regular working party, consisting of a Duffadar, or overseer, and 

 thirtv Dheru women, 1 began to search the adjacent ground, and the 

 first place which I examined on the N. E. side of the hill, yielded an 

 ample produce of very fine gold dust. I was equally successful when I 

 examined the other sides, and particularly noticed that a sort of red earth 

 generally two feet deep, and succeeded by a white calcareous earth of 

 equal depth, the under-stratum of which is composed of large white 

 deca\ed stones, seldom failed to contain an ample proportion of metal, 



a circumstance which induced me to think that the same sort of earth, 



though remote from the hills, might be likewise impregnated with ore ; 

 and in order to satisfy myself of it, I removed to arutt, distant about 

 one and half mile from Baterine Hill, and totally unconnected with it, 

 where having collected a few loads of red earth, and washed it, the first 

 load which was examined yielded (a circumstance wholly to be ascrib- 

 ed to chance) as much as twenty from any other impregnated place. 

 This agreeable surprize, however, did not last longer than the time of 

 trying the remaining loads, which yielded exactly the same propor- 

 tion as the earth near the hill had done. 



Having thus satisfied myself of the merits of this red clay, .1 directed 

 the gold searchers to spread in various directions at a distance from 

 the hills, and to gather in preference wherever they found it. I had 

 the satisfaction to find my conjectures proved invariably well founded, 

 having tried on that day the tract near Daseracottapilly at more than 

 twelve different places, every one of which yielded a satisfactory pro- 

 duct. 



It will surprise persons unacquainted with the character of Indians 

 to hear, as I inquired of the inhabitants of the village close to which 

 I had discovered gold dust, whether they ever had noticed particles of 

 it on their ground (some of which are actually large enough to be dis- 



* Baterine Hill. 



