of Southern India, 375 



quartz and hornstone pebbles, cemented by calcareous clay 

 and grains of sand. It is very likely that this stratum would 

 be found productive in diamonds ; and I have no doubt, that 

 those found at present in the bed of the Kistna, have been 

 washed down from these their native beds, during the rainy 

 season*. In the alluvial soil of the plains at the base of this 

 range of mountains, and particularly on or near the banks of 

 the rivers Kistna and Penuar, are situated the mines which 

 have produced the largest diamonds in the world. Among 

 them are the famous mines of Golcondah, so called from their 

 being situated in the dominions of the sovereigns of Golcondah, 

 although they are far distant from the hill fort of that name, — 

 from which the province and Cooteb Shahi dynasty took their 

 title. They Avere once very numerous (at least twenty in num- 

 ber), and Gani Parteala, situated about three miles from the 

 left bank of the Kistna, was the most famous. They are now, 

 with the exception of two or three, quite deserted, and the 

 names of several of those mentioned by Tavernier are forgot- 

 ten. In none have fresh excavations been dug for many years ; 

 although much ground remains unopened, and many spots 

 might be pointed out for new and productive mines. 



Even at Gani Parteala the search is confined to the rubbish 

 of the old mines : at Atcur, Chintapalli, Barthenypard and at 

 Oustapalli, all situated within two or three miles of each other, 

 there are no labourers. 



The plain in which these villages are situated is bounded 

 on all sides by granitic rocks, which also form its basis. The 

 average depth of the alluvial soil is about twenty feetf. Its 

 upper portion is composed of that peculiar black earth which 

 is called by Europeans " black cotton soil %" and is identical 

 with that found on the banks of the Kistna in other parts of 

 its course ; on the banks of the Godavery ; of the Manjera ; 

 Baen-Gunga and in the plain of Nandiala, arising from the 

 decomposition of the basaltic trap rocks, in which all these 

 rivers or their tributary streams take their rise. Beneath this 



* Diamonds are found in the bed of the Godavery near Buddrachelluni. 

 The nullahs and small rivers which run into it near that place, have their 

 origin in a rock formation exactly similar with those above described. I 

 think it very probable that the diamond mines of Sembhelpoor, of Pannali, 

 and even of Bijapur are situated near similar rocks. 



T The greatest extent of the alluvium from the river's bank is about six 

 miles, and the change to the red and grey soil from the decomposition of 

 the granitic rocks is very distinct. 



J This soil is easily fusible before the blow-pipe: in 1820 I exposed it in 

 a covered crucible to little more than a red heat, and it was converted into 

 a light porous lava ; before the blow-pipe it forms a vitreous globule. 



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