354 SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPllON OF PRECIOUS STONES 



island, almandine is said to occur embedded in a hornblende-schist. It is also found in 

 gem-gravels in the southern and south-western parts of the island. On account of its 

 similarity to ruby it is no doubt sometimes mistaken and substituted for that stone. It is 

 consequently occasionally referred to as "Ceylonese ruby," a somewhat misleading term 

 since the true ruby also occurs in Ceylon. 



It is frequently stated that the most important of all localities for the finest almandine 

 is Syriam, the ancient capital of the former kingdom of Pegu, which was conquered by 

 the Burmese and now forms part of the British province of Lower Burma. Syriam is now 

 only a small village near the important trade centre of Rangoon (see Map, Fig. 54). Both 

 are situated on the alluvial deposits which form the delta of the Irrawaddy. According to 

 Dr. F. Noetling, of the Indian Geological Survey, garnet does not occur here at all ; it 

 is probable, therefore, that almandine was brought from some other place to Syriam when 

 the latter was the capital of the kingdom. But no precious almandine has as yet been 

 observed to occur in any part of Burma. Nowhere in Pegu, that is to say, in the region of 

 the lower Irrawaddy, are any precious stones met with, while in Upper Burma the only red 

 stones found are ruby, spinel, and red tourmaline. It is said that the inhabitants of the 

 neighbouring Shan States on the east bring almandine into Burma, where it is sold as ruby. 

 However that may be, it is certain that the supposed occurrence of almandine at Syriam is 

 by no means well authenticated. 



In consequence of the supposed occurrence of almandine at Syriam (Syrian), this stone 

 has sometimes been distinguished as " Syrian garnet " (not to be confused with Syria). In 

 course of time, however, this term has come to signify a colour distinction, and is now 

 applied to almandine, the colour of which inclines to violet and approaches that of the ruby 

 or of the " oriental amethyst." " Syrian garnet,'' then, is a term which includes some of 

 the finest and costliest stones, while " vermeille garnet " is the term given to the cheapest 

 and least prized brownish varieties. 



Garnet is of wide distribution in India. The precious almandine occurs there in such 

 large amounts that it forms a not unimportant product of the country. It is collected and 

 cut at many places, especially at Delhi and Jaipur. Whether all the garnets collected in 

 India belong to the variety almandine is, however, doubtful, since chemical analyses have not 

 been made ; we shall therefore here treat of the occurrence of garnet generally, at such 

 places in India where it is obtained in any amount. The stones suitable for cutting as sems 

 appear to be all obtained by excavating and washing the weathered products of gneiss and 

 similar rocks. There are workings of this kind at Kondapalli in the Godavari district 

 (lat. 16° 38' N., long. 80° 36' E. See Map, Fig. 33). The garnets found here have been 

 derived from a hornblende-gneiss, and have long been famous : those at present obtained 

 are, however, of little value. At Bhadrachalam, on the Godavari river in the Central 

 Provinces, as well as at Mahanadibett, in Orissa, garnets of the same kind are obtained. 

 Stones of better quality than those of the last-named locality come from Gharibpeth, eight 

 miles south of Paloncha in Haidarabad. They occur, with much kyanite, at a depth of 

 8 feet below the surface in weathered material, derived probably from granite or gneiss. 

 The stones obtained are tested as to durability by a smart blow with a hammer; those 

 which resist the blow are fit for cutting, and are sent for this purpose to Madras. 



The garnet mines in Rajputana are a more important source of supply. The mines of 

 Sarwar (lat. 26° 4' N., long. 75° 4^' E.), in the Kishengurh State, are often mentioned. The 

 privilege of working in these mines is granted by the Rajah on a payment of one rupee per 

 man per day. This source of revenue alone brings in 50,000 rupees per annum, so that 

 there must be a daily average of 130 to 140 persons at work in these mines. According to 



