1847.] 



in the Province of Malabar. 



157 



undulating motion by the washer with one hand, while the soil is 

 stirred up with the other until all the earthy particles are washed out 

 of it, and a sediment is left in the hollow consisting chiefly of a mix- 

 ture of black sand and particles of Iron and Gold. The Pauley is 

 then taken out of the water, and one end of it being somewhat ele- 

 vated, water is gently poured upon its contents until the gold and 

 metallic sediment appear on the border distinctly divided from the 

 earthy mass. The golden particles are separated with a grain or 

 two of quicksilver which is rubbed into them, and then put in a piece 

 of tobacco leaf, which being placed in a crucible or more generally 

 between two pieces of lighted charcoal the heat causes the quicksil- 

 ver to evaporate, and the gold is then taken out in a pure state. 



" When gold-dust is found in streams a wooden trough, about 4 to 

 \\ feet long and 15 inches wide, is frequently used, and into this the 

 sand or soil from the bed of the river or rivulet is thrown as fast as 

 it is taken out and then washed by the person in charge of the trough, 

 who is constantly stirring the sand with his right hand and pouring 

 a gentle stream of water upon it with his left, until nothing remains 

 but the heavy black sand and particles of iron and gold, and when 

 the dust appears on its borders it is collected with a proportion of 

 quicksilver and then separated in the manner before mentioned. 



*' Native gold is likewise found in small pieces, particularly in the 

 beds of the several branches of the Beypoor river flowing through 

 the Nelamhoor valley before they all unite above Mamhaatangady. 



" In the rainy season the Pauties are worked upon the mountains, 

 hills and other elevated spots, but these places, owing to the want of 

 water to assist the operation, are abandoned at the end of the rains, 

 and the Pauties are employed during the dry months in the beds of 

 rivers and smaller streams. 



** The sands on the sea beach between Parparangaddy^ Caraloon- 

 dy and Beypoor are most productive during the months of June, Ju- 

 ly, August and September, when the rivers which fall into the sea at 

 Beypoor and Caraloondy are filled by the South-west Monsoon, but 

 gold is foimd here, though in smaller quantities, throughout the year. 



*' There appears no reason whatever to doubt that the matrix of 

 the golden ore is in the mountains and hills of Malabar, and even 

 many elevated spots in the vallies of Nelamboor and Moolcoorty, and 

 the immediate vicinity of Devalla and the Koondah and Neilglierry 

 mountains ; whilst that which is found in the beds of rivers and other 



