Br Hamilton on the Diamond Mine of Panna, SB 
entered little into the economy of the ancient Hindus. Bam- 
boos are also abundant on these hills. 
The table land above the ascent is more level, and freer from 
rocks, than that in the Shahabad district ; but, although I ad- 
vanced on it about three miles, and to within full view of the 
town of Panna, I saw not the slightest trace of cultivation. I 
did not proceed to Panna, because I found the people at work 
in search of diamonds, and thus satisfied my curiosity without 
being obliged to remain a night destitute of comfort in the for- 
mality of a visit to the Baja. 
The whole plain on the table land for several miles round 
Panna in all directions, wherever it happens to be of a gravelly 
nature, is said to produce diamonds. In most parts, the soil is 
very red, in others it has only a slight tinge of that colour, and 
is of a dark brown. This soil is from two to eight cubits deep ; 
and, where the diamonds are found, contains many small 
pebbles, a good deal resembling some ores of iron that I have 
seen in Bhagalpur. The diamonds are found intermixed with 
this, but never adhering to any stone or pebble. The workmen 
lift up the gravelly earth in baskets, throw it into a shallow pit 
filled with water, and wash out the earth. They then spread 
the washed gravel thin on a smooth piece of gi'ound, and sepa- 
rate the useless pebbles with their hands, moving eight or ten 
pieces at a time, so that no diamond can possibly escape their 
notice. Many days are thus often spent without success ; but 
a very few diamonds in the year repay the workman for his la- 
bour. The greater part of the diamonds are not worth more 
than 500 rupees A good many, however, are found worth 
from 500 to 1000. Very few are found worth above the latter 
value. The Raja is said to have at present one valued at 
50,000 rupees ; but he has not been able to find a merchant, 
and has placed the gem in the head, of an image. The work- 
men assured me, that the generation of diamonds is always go- 
ing forward, and that they have just as much chance of success 
in searching earth which has been fourteen or fifteen years un- 
examined, as in digging what has never been disturbed ; and, 
in fact, I saw them digging up earth which had evidently been 
The rupee contains 1794 grains of silver. 
