104 DIAMOND MINES OF PANNA 



with the general horizontal position of the beds, the existence of lias 

 limestone reposing upon them, the distinct interstratification of a series 

 of slate clay, and above all, the cropping out of bituminous shale from be- 

 neath the whole mass, would appear to justify the use of the term which 

 I have applied. 



I have been thus prolix, because it is of importance that I should be 

 clearly understood with regard to my nomenclature, and, if I am wrong, 

 my own description may, perhaps, serve to correct my error. Having 

 thus premised, I shall now proceed to give as brief a description as I can 

 of the mines in question. 



The natives describe the mines by using the terms chila, or superficial, 

 and gahira, or deep, and the matrix they call madda ; the rocky matrix of 

 the deep mines is always a conglomerate, and, if it is a gritstone with a silici- 

 ous cement, and its pebbles are of ancient rocks, and waterworn, it is term- 

 ed *pakka, or mature ; but if the cement is argillaceous, and its pebbles are 

 of more f recent rocks, it is then called kacha, or immature ; the matrix 

 of the superficial mines is universally called Ldlkahru, or red ironstone 

 gravel, mixed with ferruginous sand or clay. This gravel is waterworn and 

 sometimes quite rounded like swan shot, and when found in the ^fissures 

 and interstices of the upper sandstone, it is mixed with ferruginous sand, 

 but on the other hand when imbedded in ferruginous clay, it is usually 

 found covered with vegetable soil and reposing upon slaty§ marl ; — some- 

 times, however, it is surmounted by a stratum consisting of particles of 



common 



* As at Panna, Kamariya, Brijpur, Sec. 



\ As at Sakeriya and Udesna, 



:}; As on the counterscarp of the Panna hills. 



§ At Panna and Kamariya. 



