154 



Account of the Gold Mines 



[No. 32, 



Now these names are mentioned m modern Hindu Almanacks, and 

 vet they are utterlj- unknown to all Hindu authors and lexicographers. 

 Is not this eyidently copied from the custom of Europe ? For the 

 weelc or measure of seven days has heen known among Hindus only 

 in modem times : in ancient days they measured each month by the 

 increasing and decreasing moon alone : and in the present day a 

 Hindu usually dates a letter or document thus : " On Monday the 

 sixth of the bright fortnight inMagha," kc. but in old times the day 

 of the fortnight was thus specified without being named : and at pre- 

 sent the name is often omitted. The Hindus have copied the names 

 of the weekly days from Christians : not from Musulmans, whose 

 system is ditierent. What has now been stated shows that the signs 

 of the Zodiac bear Greek names : which however have never come 

 into ordinary use in India. 



^ I. Account of the Gold Mmesin the Province of Malabar. 

 From official papers communicated by Government, 



The existence of Gold in the province of Malabar was made 

 known to Government by the Collector, Mr. Sheffield, in a communi- 

 cation, dated 10th January, 1831, in which he stated that gold dust 

 to the value of Rupees 5.285 had heen collected at Carcatode in the 

 Ernaad talook, in the Xelarnhoor valley, at Caraloondy on the sea- 

 beach in the Shernaad talook, and at Moonanaad, Moo'peynaad^ and 

 J\^amlaIacotta in JVynaad, the whole weighing 11,449 fanams. 



" Of this quantity'^ he continues " by far the greatest portion has 

 been forwarded to the Presidency, the remainder being 2,908| new 

 gold fanams weight, valued Rupees 1,326-6-2, will be delivered over 

 by me to Mr. Hudleston, who has been instructed to collect as much 

 more gold dust for the use of Government, as can be obtained. 



" I beg however to state that in consequence of an increased de- 

 mand for this valuable commodity owing to a greater number of 

 persons resorting to this province from the eastern districts of 

 Coimhatore, Madura, and Trichinopobj to purchase it, the price has 

 risen in the average 5| per cent., or from Rupees 4-2-40 to 4-3-35 

 for ten new gold fanams weight. 



" Though gold is found in all the rivers of this district from the 

 stream which falls into the sea at Elatoor, about eight mileSvnorth;of 

 Calicut, and as far south as the numerous streams flowing through 



