Asiatic Researches, Vol XVII. Part 1 . 
221 
gave the following beds : 1. 8 feet of vegetable soil : 2. 8 feet of pirimatti or common 
tancar, imbedded in yellow clay ; 3. 4 feet of lalcacra or red ironstone gravel, in 
ferruginous clay ; 4. 2 feet of della or white quartz gravel ; next followed sandstone ; 
and then the cache matrix. The thickness of the della stratum is considered a 
matter of augury : it ought not to exceed two feet. At the Udesna mines the same 
matrix underlies lateritc*, there, called macha. 
The preceding are all termed gahira or deep : “ the chi/a or superficial mines are 
to be found in every part of the diamond tract ; excepting only a circuit of about 
five miles from the cascade of tlieBdgin river, where it appears that denuding causes 
have swept them away, and all their contents into the glen of that river. Their 
matrix is always red ironstone gravel in ferruginous sand or ferruginous clay.” 
“ These mines rarely exceed five or six feet in depth, and are often much less. 
With regard to their produce I am inclined to think they are very precarious, not- 
withstanding some of the largest diamonds have been found in them. It is com- 
mon to hear complaints of having found nothing for many months.” “ They have 
an advantage in requiring little or no outlay, and are consequently wrought by all 
classes.” “ The diamond is occasionally, though very rarely, found on the sur- 
face.” 
Besides the. above localities where this mineral is supposed to be in situ, there are 
some where it is found in deposites, with which it appears to have been swept away 
from its native beds, as at Majgoha and in the glen of the Bagin river.” In the 
latter the diamond is found under rocky debris both on the banks and in the bed of 
the river, and also in the basin which receives the cascade. This latter, Captain 
Franklin thinks, has never been properly excavated. The Majgoha mines, which 
are on the western boundary of the diamond tract, arc situated in a hollow, resem- 
bling an inverted cone, the diameter of which is about 100 yards, and the depth not 
less than 100 feet. On its periphery superficial mines are wrought in sandstone ; 
but the most valuable are in the green mud with which this hollow is filled, and 
which is covered with a thick crust of calcareous spar. Fifty feet is the greatest 
depth to which they have carried them, as the water at that depth overflows them, 
and compels them to desist. It is possible that here, as in the cascade of the Bagin 
river, 44 superior means might be applied with efl'oct and perhaps with profit.” 
In all the mines the method of search is the same. The matrix (which if rocky 
requires to be broken) is thrown into a trench and well washed, to clear it of the 
clay •. to ensure this object more effectually it is sifted with fine baskets. The frag- 
ments are then spread in a thin layer on a smooth floor plastered with clay or cow- 
dung, and when dry the whole is passed under the hand, and searched three several 
times. Notwithstanding all their care, some smaller diamonds sometimes escape 
their scrutiny ; and it ha . happened that the refuse fragments being again examined, 
they have been detected, a circumstance which appears to have given rise to the 
opinion of their reproduction. This explanation applies particularly to the Maj- 
goha mines, where the matrix being in some measure calcareous, no washing is suffi- 
cient to free the diamond completely. 
The mineral is classedaccordingto the native denominations, as follows, l.Lilwqia, 
transparent and colourless, very scarce. 2. Bnnspati motichar, ghirya or maskai the 
first has a greenish tinge, the second is also greenish but with a pearly cast, the 
third is yellowish and of a greasy or resinous lustre : these kinds are common, and 
their price ia thirty Srinagarif rupees for one rntltc weight : thirty-five fortwo; forty 
for three; forty-five for four ; and fifty for those of five ratti weight. 3- Samhara and 
iharchara. These appear to be laminae of large diamonds that have been broken. 
They are of a good water in general, and being cheaper, (twenty rupees the ratti in- 
creasing as above) are found the most profitable by the jewellers. 4. Bengula 
pashm, pira and malta : these are yellowish green, yellow, and clove brown ; their 
price is fifteen rupees the ratti. 5. Jickatberar : this is the rose colored variety ; its 
price is twelve rupees the ratti. 6. /Cdta, garas or jalidar • the first is black or very 
dark brown , and the second, as its name implies, includes all diamonds that are 
flawed : the worst may be purchased for eight, and the best for ten rupees the ratti. 
The revenue of these mines is divided amongst the Rajas of Panna, Banda, Chir- 
cari, and Jaitpur, The first of t hese, who has by far the largest share, receives about 
30,000 Rs. annually. This revenue is the produce of a tax originally fixed at one- 
fourth of the value of all diamonds below eight raltis weight, hut the tax levied is 
said to exceed this ; and for all higher weights there is no stipulation. The whole 
* “ The laterite is an aggregate of ironstone gravel cemented by an argdlo-fer- 
ruginous cement ; it therefore something resembles pisiform iron ore.” 
T The Srinagari Rupee=0,86 of a Sicca Rupee. 
