376 Mr. Voysey on the Diamond Mines of Southern India. 



upper stratum, it is mixed with masses and rounded pebbles 

 of sandstone, quartz rock, jasper, flinty slate, granite and large 

 amorphous masses of a calcareous conglomerate, bearing no 

 mark of attrition from the action of running water. In this 

 stratum the diamond and other precious stones are found. 

 The excavations are of various size, but from 15 to 20 feet 

 deep. 



The labourers are a little more under controul than at Ban- 

 ganpali, and they pay a trifling duty to the Nizam's agent 

 stationed in the village. The mode of search is precisely the 

 same as that above described. 



The mines of Ovatampalli and of Canparti on the right and 

 left banks of the Pennar near Cuddapet, are in an alluvial soil 

 of nearly the same nature; it is not quite so black, from the 

 greater admixture of debris of sandstone and clayslate. 



In many parts of the plain of Nandiala, diamonds were 

 formerly sought for, but the mines have for a long time ceased 

 to be productive. 



The failure of the mines of the Dekhin may perhaps be 

 principally attributed to the cheapness and plenty of Brazil 

 diamonds. Otherwise, from the vast extent of the rock in 

 which they are found in India, there are scarcely any limits to 

 the search for them. It may be assumed then : 



1st. That the matrix of the diamonds produced in southern 

 India, is the sandstone breccia of the " clay slate formation." 



2d. That those found in alluvial soil are produced from the 

 debris of the above rock, and have been brought thither by 

 some torrent or deluge, which could alone have transported 

 such large masses and pebbles from the parent rock, and that 

 no modern or traditional inundation has reached to such an 

 extent. 



3d. That the diamonds found at present in the beds of the 

 rivers are washed down by the annual rains. 



It will be an interesting point to ascertain if the diamonds 

 of Hindustan can be traced to a similar rock. It may also be 

 in the power of others more favourably situated than the writer, 

 to ascertain, if there be any foundation for the vulgar opinion 

 of the continual growth of the diamond. Dr. Brewster's opi- 

 nion is rather in favour of it than otherwise. It is certain 

 that in these hot climates crystallization goes on with wonder- 

 ful rapidity, and I hope at some future period to produce un- 

 deniable proofs of the re-crystallization of amethyst, zeolite 

 and felspar, in alluvial soil. 



LVIII. Notices 



