187 
past 4 .] Ball: Diamonds and Gold of Ike Sambalpur District. 
heaps of the red earth—some pieces, of the size of small pebbles, and so on, till it resembles 
coarse brick-dust—which had been washed, and the diamonds taken out.” * * * § 
The next mention of Sambalpur diamonds is to be found in Lieutenant Kittoe’s account t 
of kis journey, in the year 1838, through the forests of Orissa. He 
speaks of the people as being too apathetic and indolent to search 
for diamonds. His remarks on the localities where they occur seem to be derived from 
Mr. Motte’s account, to which, indeed, he refers. 
Although published in the same number of the Asiatic Society’s Journal,J we find a 
paper dated two years later, or in 1840, which was written by 
Major Ouseley, 1840. Major Ouseley, on the “ Process of washing for gold-dust and 
diamonds at PEeera Ivhoond. In this we meet the following statement: The Heeia 
Khoond is that part of the river which runs south of the islands. The diamonds and gold- 
dust are said to be washed down the Ebe River, about, four miles above the Heera Khoond ; 
but as both are proourable as far as Sonpur, I am inclined to think there may be veins of 
gold along the Makanadi.” 
No mention is made by Major Ouseley of the system of throwing a bund across one of 
the channels, as is described on a following page ; but from my enquiries, I gathered that 
that method of washing was in practice for many years before the period of Major Ouseley s 
visit. He describes the operations of individual washers—not the combined efforts of the 
large number, which made that washing successful. 
The diamonds found became the property of the Rajah, while the gold was the per¬ 
quisite of the washers, who sold it for from twelve to fifteen rupees per tola. 
In the Central Provinces Gazetteer it is stated that “during the period of native rule 
some fifteen or twenty villages were granted rent-free to a class 
Central Provinces Gazetteer. <>a qp e( j j/,{ raSi j n consideration of their undertaking the search for 
diamonds. When the country lapsed in I860, these villages were resumed. So far as can 
be gathered from the various sources of information, large and valuable diamonds have been 
occasionally met with; but the evidence on this point is somewhat conflicting. I do not think, 
however, that what we know is altogether consistent with the statement in the Gazetteer, that 
“ the best stones ever found here were thin and flat, with flaws in them. 
Local tradition speaks of one large diamond, which was found during the Mahratta occupa¬ 
tion. Its size made its discovery too notorious; otherwise it 
largest diamonds found. wou ]d in all probability, like many other smaller ones, found at 
that time, never have reached the hands of the Makratta Agent. It is said to have weighed 
two tolas and two mashas (at ten mashas to the tola),§ which would be about 316 2 grains 
trov, or expressed in carats 99*3. It would be impossible, of course, to make any estimate of 
the value of a rough stone of this size, regarding the purity, colour, &c., of which nothing is 
known. 
Another diamond, in the possession of Narain Singh, is said to have weighed about a tola 
the equivalent of which, calculated as above, would be 45 35 carats. Already one of 16 5 
carats has been mentioned as having been sent to Calcutta in 1766. One large but slightly 
flawed diamond, which I saw in the possession of a native in Sambalpur, was valued in 
Calcutta, after cutting, at Rs. 2,500. Mr. Emanuel, in his work on Diamonds and Precious 
* Tliis description suggests laterite as the matrix from which the diamonds were proximately derived. In this 
connection it may be noted that one of the principal sources of Cape diamonds is said to be a superficial ferruginous 
conglomerate. 
t J. A. S. B., VIII, 1830, p. 375. 
% Ibid. p. 1057. 
§ (One masha = 14 37 grains troy): properly speaking there are 12 mashas in a standard tola. 
