1839.] of the country extending between Bhar and Simla. 1057 



with interest, and hope soon to see through its exertions, a spirit of 

 inquiry stirred up throughout India. 



{Signed,) W. Jameson. 



Amballa, 



I3tk October, 1839. 



Art. V. — Note on the process of washing for the Gold Dust and 

 Diamonds at Heera Khoond. By Major J. R. Ouseley. 



The day before yesterday, I visited the Heera Khoond, and saw 

 the process of washing for gold dust and diamonds. A set of fishermen 

 have villages free from rent ; on this service, men, women, and children 

 are employed. The women alone wash, the men and children bring 

 the gravel and sand in wooden trays, and place it in the trough, which 

 is open at one end, with a gentle inclination towards the river, on 

 the edge of which the women sit. With their left hands they stir 

 up the gravel, and with the right pour water out of a wooden bas- 

 ket-looking bucket gently over the upper end ; it runs out into the 

 river, the larger pebbles and gravel are thrown over, and the finer 

 sand, on the trough being full, re-washed until little remains, when 

 it is removed into the wooden trays, and by dipping them under 

 water, and shaking them about, the gravel gradually falls over, leaving 

 only gold dust. They detect the diamonds at a glance, as they wash. 

 One I saw about the size of a large grain of wheat, clear and bright ; 

 but these are not to be purchased, as they are the Raja's property. The 

 gold they are allowed to dispose of ; which they do at 12 or 15 rupees 

 per tola. The veins are, I am convinced, some distance off, as the grains 

 of gold appear flattened by collision, in rolling among pebbles. I have 

 the pleasure to send 3 mashas, (^ a tola not yet brought), and some 

 of the rocks about the spot where the diamonds and gold dust are 

 found. The Heera Khoond is an island, about a coss long, and one 

 or two hundred yards wide in the Mahanuddy, seven miles, seven 

 and a half furlongs from the eastern end of Sumbulpoor. The Heera 

 Khoond, is that part of the river, which runs south of the islands 

 The diamonds and gold dust are said to be washed down the 

 Ebee river, about four miles above the Heera Khoond ; but as 

 both are procurable as far as Soonpoor, I am inclined to think there 

 may be veins of gold along the Mahanuddy. It would however, 

 I think, be very desirable to have this part of the country properly 

 examined, which it never was yet. Gold washings might be under- 



