Mr. Greville on the 
40 6 
u depend on to Permetty, with one of these people, who, on 
“ his arrival there, probably through fear of his cast, said he 
<£ knew no farther. My servant persevered, and informed me 
“ he had found the place I wished to see. 
“ I arrived at Permetty, by the route of Namcul, the 6th ; 
u and, learning that the distance to the spot was about 3-4 hours 
S£ or 14 miles, I left Permetty in time to arrive there about 
“ sunrise the next morning. At this time no person but my 
<( servant was present, and, from a continued excavation at 
“ different depths, from 6 to 16 feet, in appearance like a wa- 
“ ter-course, running in length about a mile and a half east 
iC and west, over the brow of a very rising ground, I saw at 
<( once the place from which the stone was procured. The 
“ prodigious extent that at different times appears to have been 
“ dug up, with the few people employed, shews that it has been 
“ a business of ages. 
44 The ground through which the vein of excavation runs, 
44 and of course the mineral, commands one of the finest and 
44 most extensive prospects it is possible to conceive. The sur- 
44 face of the ground is covered with innumerable fine alabaster 
44 stones, and a variety of small shrubs, but not a tree sufficient 
44 to shelter my palanquin. 
44 There is not the appearance of an habitation within three 
44 quarters of a mile. The nearest village is called Condrastra 
44 Pollam. In this village are about 30 small thatched houses : 
44 among these are 5 families, who, in descent by prescriptive 
44 right, are the miners, and dig in the pits. The nearest place 
44 of any consequence, in Rennell’s Map, is Caranel, on the 
44 south side the Cavery. The distance of the pits from the 
« river is above 4 miles ; but the ground between prevent its 
