.J36 DIAMOND MINES 



Jarly on or near the banks of the rivers Kistna and Pennar, are situated 

 the mines which have produced the largest diamonds in the world. A- 

 mong them are the famous mines of Golcondah, so called from their being 

 situated in the dominions of the sovereigns of Golcondah, although they 

 are far distant from the hill fort of that name,— from which the province 

 and Cooteb Shahi dynasty took their title. They were once very numer- 

 ous Tat least twenty in number), and Gani Parteala situated about three 

 miles from the left bank of the Kistna, was the most famous. They are now 

 with the exception of two or three, quite deserted, and the names of several 

 of those mentioned by Tavernier are forgotten. In none have fresh exca? 

 vations been dug for many years ; although much ground remains unopen* 

 ed, and many spots might be pointed out for new and productive mines, 



Even at Gani Parteala the search is confined to the rubbish of the old 

 mines : at Atcur, Chintapalli, Barthenypard and at Oustapalli, all si- 

 tuated within two or three miles of each other, there are no labourers, 



The plain in which these villages are situated is bounded on all sides by 

 granitic rocks, which also form its basis. The average depth of the allu- 

 vial soil is about twenty feet.* Its upper portion is composed of that pe- 

 culiar black earth which is called by Europeans "Black cotton soil,"t 

 and is identical with that found on the banks of the Kistna in other parts 

 of its course ; on the banks pf the Godavery ; of the Manjera ; Baen-Gun- 

 ga and in the plain of Nandiala, arising from the decomposition of the ba- 

 saltic trap rocks, in which all these rivers or their tributary streams take 

 their rise. Beneath this upper stratum, it is mixed with masses and round- 

 ed pebbles of Sandstone, Quartz Rock, Jasper, Flinty slate. Granite and 



* The greatest extent of the alluvium from the river's bank is about six miles, and the change to 

 the red and grey soil from the decomposition of the granitic rocks is very distinct. 



t This soil is easily fusible before the blow pipe : in 1820 I exposed it in a covered crucible tq 

 little more than a red heat, and it was converted into a light porous lava ; before the blow pipe i$ 

 forms a vitreous globule. 



