MiCfES, MP.tAi.,= . ANI) GE.M3» 
the rock. The enrih being brought out, j j 
EcnrcheJ, nffords .stones of vnrious shape.s, mw 
water. This e.arlh is of a TeUowi:'h, and (j tf'*" 
reddish colour, frequently adhering to the jt 
strong a crust that the separation becomes difticu 
To find the diamonds, the workmen form a 
Kind of clay, Avith a small vent on one side, a j ' 
the bottom': in this vent they place a plug, a'’“ ,1 
into the cistern the earth they hate dug, pour i‘‘ j«,e , 
dissolve it. They then break the clods, and S' cJf', 
earth in the cistern, allowing (he lighter part to “ 
off in the form of mud, when the vent rhole 
let out tlie water. They thus continue washing in 
remains in the cistern is pretty clean ; and in l 
middle of the d.iy, when the snn shines b'''§“ ’,oEy 
look tiver all the sand, at which jiractice they ^ 
that the smallest stone cannot e.-xape them. _ "’y 
of the sun being reflected by the diamonds, iif'V 
research, which would be loileJ if a cloud were 
The specific gravity of the liamond is to 
in the proportion of somewhf . more than lhr®o ‘ ^ 
to one. It is the hardest of all precious 
(,nly be cut and ground hj itscif ami its 
To" bring it to the peifcction by which its ‘yi a' / 
augmented, the lapidary begins by rubbing se'^t ^ y 
stones against each other, while rough, 
them to the ends of tv\’o wooden blocks, j (.fi y 
be held in the hand. The powder thus 
stones, and received in a small box for it 
serves to grind and polish them. . 
The greatest known diamond w.as found 
belongs to the King of Poinngal. It weighs 
and, although uncut, is estimated by Rome 
enoiinous sum of two hundred and threat} 
sterling, which, gives an estimate of nearly o'o 
sterling for each carat, the mnliiplicand ot * * 
its whole weight being taken. The one 
and value is that purc'ba.sed in 1772 !>)' "i ' t 
Russia : it weigb.s seven liun.dred and seven*) '^grl'®/^! 
and has been estimated at nearly five million ^ pi* f 
ought, however, to he observed, that 
‘ ibmided on the magnitude and brillianey of ^ 
