Vol. Ill* MifcelUnea. Curioja. *2 39 



others fcatterM : and running thence in length 

 quite through Bengula. In, among, and near 

 thefe Hills, in feveral places, are known to 

 be (as its believed moflr of them have) Mines v 

 many of them are poflefled by petty Princes, 

 or Rajaesy of the Hundues-^ fome driven thi- 

 ther for fhelter by the Mores^ who have ta- 

 ken the greateft part of their Country from 

 them ; others never overcome, as the Rajaes^ 

 on the Hills in and near BengaU^ who ad- 

 mit of little or no Commerce with their 

 Neighbours, or paflage through their Coun- 

 try, which (being Barren, in few Places af- 

 fording good Water, the ways craggy and 

 very toilfom, efpedally to an Army) the 

 Moors covet not^but let them enjoy it peace- 

 ably, yet to prevent danger, they forbid 

 digging (as the King of Pegu does) or dig 

 fome few Mines only very privately, fo thati 

 a great part of the Mines are unfearcht and 

 concealed. But the Kingdoms of Golconda 

 and Fifiafore contain in them fcope enough 

 of ground, known to have Mines fufficient 

 to furnifti all the World plentifully with Di- 

 amonds i but their Kings permit digging on- 

 ly in fome Places appointed, left, as it is 

 imagined, they fhould become too common ; 

 and withal for fear of tempting the threatning 

 greatnefs of Aurenge Zehe \ forbiding aifothofe 

 Places that afford the largeft Stones, or elfe 

 keeping workmen in them for their own pri- 

 vate ufes : So that but a very fmall quantity 

 in Comparifbn of what might be) and thofe 

 only of ordinary Size, are found. x 

 In the Kingdom of Golcovda (as near as I 

 can gather from the beft acquainted) are 23 



^' Mines 



