Corundum Stone from Asia. 4 °5 
1793, I obtained a satisfactory account. Sir Charles Oakley 
was disposed to oblige me : he was then Governor of Madras ; 
and his success is due to the activity and judgment of Mr. 
Garrgw. 
Mr. Garrow knew how difficult it was to avoid the causes 
of my failure, from every Hindoo being occupied by the duty 
of his cast ; scarcely thinking on any thing else, and, when- 
ever his interest is concerned, being suspicious and reserved. 
Mr. Garrow, in the first place, ascertained the cast connected 
with Corundum to be the venders of glass bangles ; that they 
used it in their business, and sold it to all other casts. This 
cast of natives, at all times, had free access to every part of 
Tippoo’s country ; nor, until the districts about Permetty were 
ceded to the English, could it be procured in any other way. 
Mr. Garrow depended on his personal inspection ; the parti- 
culars are contained in the following letter, communicated to 
me by Sir Charles Oakley. 
Sir Charles Oakley, Bart. 
SIR? Tritchinopoly, ioth Nov. 1792. 
“ I derived so little satisfaction from the various accounts 
“ given me of the Corundum, from the indifference of the na- 
“ tives to every subject in which they are not immediately inte- 
“ rested, that I resolved to ascertain the particulars I wished 
“ to know, on the spot where the stone is found. The glass- 
“ men agreed in one material circumstance, that the place was 
“ not far from Permetty : in other particulars they disagreed, 
“ apparently with intention to mislead. 
“ It is near a fortnight since I dispatched a servant I could 
