DIAMOND MINES OF PUNNAH. 
33 
operation, distant about three miles, and in a situation per- 
fectly corresponding with that on the other side of the town* 
It was a thin jungle (or wood), with long delicate grass 
growing in great abundance from a red gravelly ferrugi- 
nous soil. 
The mines are mere narrow pits, four, five, or more feet 
deep, according to the distance of the adjacent rock from 
the surface, and dug out of a ferruginous gravelly soil, 
which is of a dark reddish-brown, or blackish colour. 
It feels moist, and consists of fine sand, with a large 
proportion of small dark-red, and whitish or yellowish- 
white pebbles^ the former appearing to contain a large 
quantity of iron. Three men were engaged in the search 
for the precious mineral when I arrived at the ground^ 
the chief of whom very readily replied to all my ques- 
tions, and explained and exemplified the series of opera- 
tions gone through. These are indeed very simple. The 
soil, as it is brought from the neighbouring pit, is thrown 
into a small square excavation in the ground, about two or 
three feet deep, the bottom and sides of which have been 
well beaten, to prevent the gravel from adhering to them. 
A quantity of water being added, a man steps into the 
place, having an instrument like a broad hoe, with a short 
handle, (the common implement of the natives for all pur- 
poses), and mixes the whole together^ using his hands also 
for that purpose, and tossing away all the larger pebbles 
which occur. This movement being continued for some 
time, the water is then thrown out by means of a small 
wicker-basket, and carries with it the sand, leaving the 
gravel behind. After repeated applications and discharges 
of water, the gravel is removed into another small bason of 
a circular figure, where it receives the last washing. From 
this it is conveyed to a large floor, on the surface of the 
ground, made of hardened earth, and there left to dry ; the 
VOL, IV. c 
