120 DIAMOND MINES OF PANNA 



the floor, but Dr. Heyne appears to have done so ; and, if I understand him 

 right the floor is sandstone also, for he says, (page 105,) that the diamond 

 bed is of the same nature with the rocks both above and below it, but is 

 distinguished from them by its superior hardness, and that the floor is so 

 hard that it strikes fire with steel, a peculiarity which equally applies to 

 the Panna mines. — Dr. Voysey arrived at the following conclusions. 



1st. That the matrix of the diamond in the mines of Southern India 

 is the *sandstone breccia of the " clay slate formation." 



2d. That those found in alluvial soil are produced from the debris of 

 the above rock, and have been brought thither by some torrent or deluge, 

 which alone could have transported such large masses and pebbles from 

 the parent rock, and that no modern or traditional inundation has reach- 

 ed to such an extent. 



3d. That the diamonds found at present in the bed of the rivers are 

 washed down by the annual rains. 



I cordially agree with Dr. Voysey in the general result of his conclu- 

 sion, because I am satisfied that the same circumstances are applicable 

 to the mines of Panna, but I nevertheless differ from him in two points ; 

 1st, I could not trace any likelihood of diamonds being washed away by 

 any natural causes now in operation, such as the annual rains — they are, 

 in general, too deeply covered with soil, even in their most superficial 



beds 



* As it appears from his description that the pebbles are rounded, perhaps the term conglome- 

 rate, or puddingstone, would be better than breccia, at least it would be more in accordance with 

 terms already recognized. 



