1SS 
Records of the Geological Survey of India. 
[vol. x. 
Stones, gives some particulars regarding the diamonds of Sambulpur, but tbe limited in¬ 
formation at his disposal does not appear to have been very accurate. He records one 
diamond of 84 grains having been found within the period of British rule, but does not 
mention bis authority. There are said to be a good many diamonds still in the bands of 
the wealthier natives in Sambalpur. Of course, large diamonds such as those above 
mentioned were of exceptional occurrence; those ordinarily found are said to have weighed, 
however, two to four rutties, equal on an average, say, to the thirtieth part of a tola, or 
4'7 grains = 1'48 carats. In the Geological Museum, there is at present a diamond which 
was sent to the Asiatic Society from Sambalpur by Major Ouseley. It weighs only ‘855 
grs. — ‘26 carats. 
As is usual, I believe, in all parts of India, the diamonds were classed as follows :— 
Classification of diamonds. 
I.— Brahman. —White, pure water. 
II.— Kshatrya .—Bose or reddish. 
III. — Yasiya. —Smoky. 
IV. — Suclra .—Dark and impure. 
From personal enquiry from the oldest of the Jhai'as, or washers, at the village of Jlm- 
^ ^ ^ f nan, and from various other sources, I have gathered the following 
details as to the mauner in which the operations were carried on 
in the Kajah’s time :— 
In the centre of the Mahanadi, near .Tinman, there is an island, called Hira Khuud, # 
which is about four miles long, and for that distance separates the waters of the river into 
two channels, as indicated on the accompanying map. 
In each year, about the beginning of March or even later, when other work was slack and 
the level of the water was approaching its lowest, a large number of people,—according to 
some of my informants, as many as five thousand,—assembled, and as the result of a consider¬ 
able amount of labor threw a bund across the mouth of the northern channel, its share of 
water being thus deflected into the southern. In the stagnant pools left in the former, suffi¬ 
cient water remained to enable the washers to wash the gravel accumulated between the rocks 
in their rude wooden trays and cradles. 
Upon women seems to have fallen the chief burden of the actual washing, while the men 
collected the stuff. The implements employed and the method of washing were similar to 
those commonly adopted in gold-washing, save only that the finer gravel was not thrown 
away until it had been thoroughly searched for diamonds. Whatever gold was found became 
the property of the washer, as already stated. Those who were so fortunate as to find a 
valuable stone were rewarded by being given a village. According to some accounts, the 
washers, generally, held their villages and lands rent-free; but I think it most unlikely that 
all who were engaged in tho operations should have done so. 
So far as I could gather, the people did not regard their, in a manner, enforced services 
as involving any great hardship; they gave me to understand that they would be glad to see 
the annual search re-established on the old terms. Indeed, it is barely possible to conceive 
of the condition of the Jharas having been at any time worse than it is at present. No doubt 
tho gambling element, which may be said to have been ever present in work of the above 
nature, commended it to the native mind. 
According to Mr. Emanuel, these people show traces of Negro blood, and hence it has 
been concluded that they are the “ descendants of slaves imported by one of tho Conquerors 
of India.” They are, however, I should say, an aboriginal tribe, showing neither in their 
complexions, character of their features, nor hair, the slightest trace of a Negro origin. 
* Lit., Diamond mine. 
