400 Geology of Bundelcund and Jubbulpore. [No. 1^5. 



basket, and carries with it the sand, leaving the gravel behind. After 

 repeated application and discharges of water, the gravel is removed into 

 another small basin of a circular figure, where it receives the last 

 washing. From these it is conveyed to a large floor on the surface of 

 the ground made of hardened earth, and there left to dry ; the finishing 

 operation consisting merely in a minute examination of this dry gravel, 

 by a person acquainted with the external characters of the jewel in its 

 rough state. Judging from the condition of the people employed, one 

 would hardly believe that they could be able to detect a stone, but 

 they assured me, they did so with the greatest ease, and it appears to 

 be the transparency and lustre, even in this state, which directs them. 

 The chief man picked out several pieces of transparent quartz from the 

 gravels which he said resemble the diamond, " he had found them of 

 " all colours and sizes, but the discovering of these, he added, did not 

 " depend upon his own skill or exertions, it was altogether the 

 " work of God," — salaaming at the same time respectfully ; and 

 pointing with a most expressive manner to the heavens. 



From the inquiries I made, diamond mining appears by no means a 

 profitable concern at Punnah. Any one may dig, subject to paying 

 the common duty of a fourth part of the produce to the Rajah, who is 

 here, (as is the case every where else in Hindostan,) paramount lord of 

 the soil. All stones, however, beyond a certain carat, are exclusively 

 claimed by him ; but it may be supposed, where the means of con- 

 cealment are so much in the power of the workman, that the prince's 

 treasury very seldom benefits by this source of revenue. In the farm 

 or spot which I examined, two diamonds only had been found during 

 the preceding year, and these fetched each 200 rupees. The number 

 of workmen commonly employed, (in the various operations of digging, 

 carrying, washing, and searching,) is from four to five, though I saw only 

 two. Of these, the sirdar or chief, has a salary of five rupees per month, 

 and the others have four, and when a valuable stone is found, some pre- 

 sent proportioned to that, is generally made them by their master. So 

 that after paying the duty and expence of working, it is obvious 

 his gains in this instance must have been very small and not suf- 

 ficient to induce him to persevere much longer in these operations. 

 Indeed, the business of mining appeared altogether at a stand when 

 I passed the spot ; and judging from the remains of pits in every direc- 



