HYDRABAD AND BIDUR. 
177 
sent to England as a boy for education, returned 
early to this country, and long commanded a large 
body of horse in the Dekkan, under native chiefs.” 
This man appears not merely to have assumed the 
Moslem costume and manners, but to have imbibed, 
almost without exception, that generous spirit of 
universal friendship, and free and profuse hospitality, 
which is, in truth, part of the character of the 
wealthy Mohummedan merchant ; forming a strong 
contrast with the niggard, penurious habits of the 
same class of persons among the Hindoos. The 
trade is chiefly in precious stones, particularly 
diamonds ; and all the principal dealers in these 
costly articles, as w~ell as the bankers, have deposi- 
tories for their treasures within the fort of Golkonda, 
for the sake of security. Hence, a common error 
has arisen, which has made Golkonda celebrated 
throughout Europe for its diamond mines ; and some 
geographical works even go so far as to describe 
these mines ; while, in very truth, the place pro- 
duces no sort of gem,— all such merchandise being 
brought in a rough state from Balagliat, and the 
plains below the Neilgherri mountains, in the 
vicinity of the river Penna. They are there found 
in the greatest abundance, in an alluvial soil ; but it is 
supposed that they have been brought down from 
the hills by the torrents, and deposited therein, — 
the sandstone breccia of the clay formation being the 
matrix. 
