IN BUNDELKHAND, 113 



matter, and it is no easy attainment to wash away a calcareous incrustation 

 by using water alone, whenever therefore, such an occurrence takes place, 

 the diamond might not only elude a first search, but a series of searches, 

 and even for a series of years, until the coating which enveloped it, was 

 worn away. 



Description of the Diamonds. 



The diamonds of the Panna mines may be classed, according to the 

 following arrangement, using native denominations : 1st, Lilwaja, trans- 

 parent, colorless, having no tinge except the azure which is reflected in a 

 drop of distilled water, it is so scarce that only one specimen was to be 

 found in the town of Panna. 



2iid. Banspati, Motichar, Ghii/a, or Maska: these kinds are common, 

 the first has a greenish tinge, the second is also greenish, but varies to a 

 pearly cast ; the third is yellowish and of a greasy or resinous lustre, as its 

 name implies ; — ^the crystalline form of this class is very distinct, exhibit- 

 ing frequently the regular octahedron as perfect as if it had been shaped 

 by an artist, the dodecahedron is also common, and so is the spheriodal, 

 arising apparently from the convexity of its faces, and the obtuseness of 

 its edges the average price of this class is thirty *Srinagari rupees, for 

 diamonds of one retti weight 35 for two, 40 for three, 45 for four, and 50 

 for those of five retti weight. 



3d. Sambarra and Charchara : these are they which have given rise 

 o the belief that the Panna mines produced only table diamonds, the 



specimens 



* The Srinagari rupees is about ten per cent, less in value than the Sonat rupee, consequently 

 it is about fourteen and a half or fifteen per cent, less than the Calcutta Sicca. 



F 2 



