134- Travels in India. Part II. 



chap. xj. . 



Of Diamonds, and the Mines and Rivers where they are found; and 

 firsl of the Author s journey to the Mine of KaoJconda. 



TH E Diamond is the moft precious of all Stones, and it was in that fort of 

 Commodity wherein I moft dealt. And therefore to acquire a perfect ex- 

 perience, I went to all the Mines $ and to one of the Rivers where they are 

 found. To which purpofe I travelPd to four Mines ; of which I will give you a 

 defcription 5 and of one of the Rivers where I have alfo been. 



The flrft of thefe Mines, where I was, is in the Territories of the King of V t - 

 fapour/m the Province of Carnatica j and the place is call'd Raolconda, five days 

 journey from Golconda, and eight or nine from Fifapottr. This Mine was difcover'd 

 not above two-hunder'd years ago, as I was inform'd by thole of the Coun- 

 trey. 



Round about the place where the Diamonds are found, the ground is fandy, full 

 of Rocks, much resembling "the parts near Fotmtain-Bleau. There are in the 

 Rocks feveral veins, fbme half a ringer, lome a whole ringer-wide : And the 

 Miners make ufe of Irons with hooks at the end, with which thep pick out the 

 earth or fand, which they put into tubs, and among that earth they find the Dia- 

 monds. But becaufe thefe veins do not run always ftreight, but ibmetimes down, 

 fometimes upward, the Miners are conftrain'd to break the Rock, following always 

 the trace of the veins : When they have open'd all the veins, and taken out all 

 the^and, then they wafh it two or three times over to look for the Diamonds. 

 In this Mine it is that they find the cleaneft Stones, and of the whiteft water. 

 But the mifchief is, that to fetch the land out of the Rock, they are forc'd to 

 ftrike fuch terrible blows with a great Iron-leaver, that they flaw the Dia- 

 mond, and make it look like Cryftal. Which is the reafon there are found ib 

 many loft Stones in this Diamond-Mine, though they make a great fhew. If the 

 Stone be clean, they only give it a turn or two upon the wheel, not caring to fhape 

 it, for fear of lofing the weight. If there be any flaws, or any points, or any 

 black or red fpecks in it, they cut all the Stone into Foflets ; or if there be only 

 a little flaw, they work it under the ridg of one of the Foflets, to hide the de- 

 fect. Now becaufe a Merchant defires rather to have a black fpeck than a red 

 one j 'tis but burning the Stone, and the fpeck becomes black. This trick at 

 length I underftood ib well, that when I law any Stones in them that came from 

 the Mine made into Foflets, efpecially very linall ones, I was certain there was 

 either lome fpeck or fome flaw in the Stone. 



There are feveral Diamond-Cutters at this Mine, but none of them have above 

 one Mill, which is of Steel. They never cut but one Stone at a time upon each 

 Mill, cafting water continually upon the Mill, to find out the grain of the Stone j 

 which being found, they pour on Oil, (not fparing for powder of Diamonds, though 

 it be very dear,) to make the Stone Hide the falter ; and they lay on more 

 weight than we do. I have feen them lay upon one Stone an hunder'd and fifty 

 pound of Lead. I muft confefs it was a great Stone, which weigh'd an hunder'd 

 and three Carats, after it was cut ; and the Mill was like ours, only the great 

 Wheel was turn'd by four Negro's. The Indians are not of the fame opinion that 

 we are s for they do not believe that the weight gives any lufter to the Stones. 

 If theirs be not fubject to take their lufter, 'tis becaufe there is always a Boy that 

 ftands with a thin woodden-llice in his hand, and waters the Wheel continually 

 with, Oil and Powder of Diamonds. Befides, their Wheel does not go (b faft as 

 ours, becaufe the Woodden-wheel that turns the Steel- wheel, is not above three 

 foot in Diameter. 



They cannot give that lively polifhment to Stones, as we give to ours in Europe j 

 and I believe the reafon to be, becaufe their Wheel does not run fb flat as ours. 

 For in regard it is of Steel, to rub ic upon the Emeril, as muft be done every 

 four and twenty hours, the Tree muft be taken oft, which can never be put on 



again 



