Records of the Geological Survey of Lidia. 
[vol. x. 
18 (5 
Raigarh and Hingir, 1st notice (Ball): Records, Vol. TV, p. 101. 
„ „ 2nd 
,, „ 
5> i) 
VIII, p. 102. 
Korba 
(Blanford) 
JJ 
Ill, P- 54. 
Coal east of Chhattisgarh 
„ 
)! » 
Ill, p. 71. 
Atgarh sandstones (Ball) 
Miscellaneous. 
X, p. 63. 
Geological features of Bancoorak, Midnapore, and Orissa : Memoirs, Vol. I, p. 219. 
Sketch of the geology of Orissa (Blanford) : Records, Vol. V, p. 56. 
Laterite of Orissa (Blanford) : Memoirs, Vol. I, p. 2S0. 
Lead vein at Chickoli, Raipur District (Blanford): Records. Vol. Ill, p. 44. 
„ Vol. I, p. 37. 
On the Diamonds, Gold and Lead Odes, of the Sambalpur District, 
by V. Ball, M.A., F.G.S., Geological Survey of India. 
Diamonds. 
When,'or by whom, diamonds were first discovered in Sambalpur is quite unknown. 
As in similar cases in many other parts of the old world, an 
First discoverers unknown. . , , 1 ,, . . p 
impenetrable haze shrouds the ancient discoverers irom our view. 
Such evidence as exists tends to the belief, that the search for diamonds was carried on, 
under a rude system, for many centuries before the year 1850, when the British took posses¬ 
sion of the district from the late Rajab, Narain Singh. 
So far as I have been able to ascertain, the first published notice of the subject is to be 
Mr. Motto's visit to Sam- found in tlle narrative of a journey to Sambalpur, which was 
baipur. undertaken by Mr. Motte in the year 1766.* The object of this 
journey was to initiate a regular trade in diamonds with Sambalpur, Lord Clive being 
desirous of employing them as a convenient means for remitting money to England. 
His attention had been drawn to Sambalpur by the fact that the Rajah had a few 
months previously sent a messenger with a rough diamond, weighing 16| carats, as a 
sample, together with an invitation to the Governor to depute a trustworthy person to pur¬ 
chase diamonds regularly. 
The Governor proposed to Mr. Motte to make the speculation a joint concern, in which 
writes the latter: “ I was to hold a third ; he the other two: all the expenses to be borne 
by the concern. The proposal dazzled me, and I caught at it, without reflecting on the 
difficulties of the march, or on the barbarity of the country, &c.” 
In spite of his life being several times in danger from attacks by the natives, the loss of 
some of his followers by fever, and a varied chapter of other disasters, Mr. Motte was enabled 
to collect a considerable amount of interesting information about the country. Owing to the 
disturbed state of Sambalpur town, however, he was only able to purchase a few diamonds. 
After much prolonged negotiation, he was permitted to visit the junction of the Rivers Hebe 
(Ebe) and Mabanadi, where the diamonds were said to be found. A servant of the Rajah’s 
who was iu charge there informed him that “ it was his business to search in the River Hebe, 
after the rains, for red earth, washed down from the mountains, in which earth diamonds 
wore always found. I asked him if it would not be better to go to the mountains and dig 
for that earth. He answered, that it had been done, until the Mahrattas exacted a tribute 
from the country ; and to do so now would only increase that tiihute. He showed me several 
Asiatic Annual Register, London, 1799. 
