DIAMOND. 
383 
Round about the place where the diamonds are 
found, the ground is sandy and full of rocks, which 
contain veins from half a finger to a finger wide. 
These veins are full of earth, or sand, which the 
miners pick out with instruments on purpose, and 
carefully deposit in a tub, as it is amongst this 
earth that the diamonds are found. They are 
sometimes obliged to break the rock in order 
to trace the veins for the sake of the earth ; 
and as soon as this is accomplished, and all the 
sand removed, it is carefully washed two or three 
times, and the diamonds, if there be any, picked 
out. 
There are several diamond-cutters at this mine, 
but none of them have above one mill, which is 
of steel. They never cut more than one stone at 
a time upon each mill, and use oil and diamond 
powder to facilitate the operation, at the same time 
loading the stone with a heavy weight. 
According to this account of Tavernier’s, the In- 
dian lapidaries are very expert in cutting the dia- 
monds, and will frequently undertake to divide a 
stone, which, from its unfavourable appearance, the 
Europeans will not venture upon. 
Speaking of the government of the mines, Ta- 
vernier says they trade very freely and honestly ; 
the king receiving two per cent, on all that are 
bought, besides a certain duty from the merchants 
for leave to dig. When these traders have fixed 
upon a spot they begin their search, and employ a 
