156 



Account of the Gold Mines 



[No. 3^, 



Carumhye, rushes down the AlUampuUy Cherum* The Poonapoya 

 descends the mountains between AUiampuUy and the Carcoor Cher- 

 rum^ and long before its junction with the Carumlye it receives both 

 the KeUakumpoya and Caracoorpoya. 



" The KeUakumpoya and Caracoorpoya above mentioned ; the 

 former river rushes down from Wynaad into the Nelamhoor valley 

 through the Pundaloor Cherrum^ and the latter descends from De- 

 vaUa to the right of the road through the Carcoor Pass. 



" Gold dust is also found on the plains in the Nelamhoor valley, 

 and frequently on elevated spots, particularly at Teeroowaly, a hill 

 near Mamhaat Angudy about 150 feet above the level of ih^Beypoor 

 river during the highest freshes. On the slope of this eminence gold 

 is procured some feet below the surface of the ground, in pits dug by 

 those who come in search of it. 



" North of the Beypoor river it is found in the Teerooivamhaddy 

 division of Polwye^ in a mountain stream which descending the 

 Ghauts to the left of the road through the Tumherchery Pass runs 

 through the Tumherchery smd Pohvye districts and forms a junction 

 with the great Beypoor river between Pawoor and Sherwaddee and 

 opposite to Mapooram in the Ernaad talook. The touch of the 

 gold found here and of that which is generally procured in the Ne- 

 lamhoor valley is about 8J. 



" Above the Ghauts in Wyjiaad, gold is found in ParTcmeetU, a 

 higher table land, between Manantoddy and Namhollacotta, at a 

 place called Chollyode in Moonanaad and Nillialam and Ponany in 

 Moopeyanaad ; it is likewise found at Devalla and its immediate vi- 

 cinity in Namhollacotia ; but the gold of Wynaad is much inferior to 

 that which is washed down from the lofty mountains actually apper- 

 taining to the JsTellgherries and Koondahs, its touch being only 7J." 



Mr. Sheffield then proceeds to describe the manner in which the 

 gold dust is found and separated, as follows : 



" The earth or sand in the mountains, hills, paddy-fields and beds 

 of rivers and rivulets known to be impregnated with this valuable 

 ore is dug up. The places selected are those in or near water such 

 as running streams, ruts, ravines and breaks in the mountains and 

 low ground into which the course of the water is most likely to 

 drive the ore during the rainy season. The earth so collected 

 is put into a kind of wooden tray hollowed in the centre and 

 not unlike a Turtle's shell, called a Pauley^ which is submerged in 

 water just enough to overflow it and no more, and turned with an 



