1842.] Geology of Bundelcund and Jubbulpore. 399 



which class may also be referred that formerly met with at Kurtal, lying 

 immediately over the granite of the peaked hills. The elevation may be 

 altogether from 1,000 to 1,200 feet above the plain of the Jumna. 



On reaching the top of the Ghaut, we cross one or two clear running 

 streams, and some oozing rills and pools of stagnant water are met 

 with, most of which indicate, by their blue slimy and iridescent surface, 

 an impregation of iron in the adjoining soil. This is indeed composed 

 of ferruginous gravel and reduced sandstone, and if we may judge from 

 the luxuriant grass growing over it, it must be one of considerable ferti- 

 lity. The town of Punnah is distant about eight miles from the Ghaut, 

 and the whole of the surrounding country here derives an additional 

 interest from its being the source of the diamond. In my march thither, 

 I passed several of the mines close to the road, but having resolved to 

 halt a day at the town, I deferred my examination of them till the 

 following morning. 



Having started early next day, I soon reached the scene of opera- 

 tions, distant about three miles to the westward of the town, and in a 

 situation corresponding to that on the other side. It was a thin 

 jungle, with long delicate grass growing out of a reddish soil. The 

 mines are mere narrow pits, four, five, or more feet deep, according to 

 the distance of the subjacent rock from the surface, and dug out of a 

 ferruginous gravelly soil, of a dark brown or blackish colour, like he- 

 patic cinnabar.* It feels moist, and consists of fine sand, with a large 

 proportion of small dark red and whitish, or yellowish-white pebbles, 

 the former appearing to contain a large quantity of iron. When I arriv- 

 ed at the ground, two men were engaged in searching for the precious 

 mineral, the chief of whom very readily replied to all my questions, 

 and explained and exemplified the series of operations gone through. 

 These are extremely simple. The soil.f as it is brought from the 

 neighbouring pit, is thrown into a small square excavation in the 

 ground, about two or three feet deep, the sides of which have been well 

 beaten to prevent the gravel from adhering to them ; a quantity of water 

 being added, a man steps into the place with a small hoe and mixes 

 the whole together, using his hands also for that purpose, and tossing 

 away all the larger pebbles. This movement being continued for 

 some time, the water is then thrown out by means of a small wicker 

 * Sp. No. 11. t Sp. No. 12. 



