part 4 .] Ball: Diamonds and Gold of the Sambalpur District. 
189 
When Sambalpur was taken over in 1850, the Government offered to lease out the right 
Indian Government become to seek for diamonds. And in 1856 a notification appeared in the 
proprietors. Gazette describing the prospect in somewhat glowing terms.* 
For a short time the lease was held by a European at the very low rate of two hundred 
rupees per annum; but as it was given up voluntarily, it may be concluded that the farmer 
did not make it pay. The facts that the Government resumed possession of the rent-free 
villages, and that the Rajah’s operations were carried on without auy original outlay, materially 
altered the ease, and rendered the employment of a considerable amount of capital, then as it 
would be now, an absolute necessity. 
Within the past few years, statements have gone the round of the Indian papers to the 
No diamonds found re- effect that diamonds are occasionally found now by the gold- 
CCDt h- washers of Sambalpur. All my enquiries failed to elicit a single 
authentic case, and the gold-washers I spoke to and saw at work assured mo that the state¬ 
ments were incorrect. Moreover', they did not appear to expect to find any, as I did not 
observe that they even examined the gravel when washing. 
With regard to the origin of the diamonds, the geological structure of the country leaves 
but little room for doubt as to the source from whence they are 
Source of the diamonds. . ,, ,. ' 
derived. Coincident with their occurrence is that ot a group or 
rocks which has been shown to be referable to the Yiudbyan series, certain members of which 
series are found in the vicinity of all the known diamond-yielding localities in India,f and, in 
the cases of actual rock-workings, are found to constitute the original matrix of the gems. 
In several of the previous accounts, the belief is either stated or implied that the diamonds 
are brought into the Mahanadi by its large tributary the Ebe. It would not, of course, help 
the point I am endeavouring to establish to say that the Ebe, at least within our area, 
except indirectly, J is not fed by waters which pass over Vindhyau rocks, hut I have the 
positive assurance of the natives that diamonds have not been found in that river, although 
gold is and has been regularly washed for. On the other hand, diamonds have been found 
in the bed of the Mahanadi as far west as Chanderpur and at other intermediate places, 
well within the area which is exclusively occupied by the quartzites, shales, and limestones 
of Vindhyan age. 
* Notification. —Persons desirous of working the valuable diamond mines of the Mahanadi are hereby in¬ 
formed, that after the 1st of January 1857, the privilege will be leased to any one who shall he considered to have 
made the most eligible offer for the same. 
2nd .—Besides previous stones, gold is to be met with in considerable quantities, and the party who may rent 
the privilege of working the diamond mines will he entitled to appropriate all diamonds, precious stones, and gold 
that he may find in the bed of that river within the limits of the Sambalpur Division during the period of his lease. 
3rd .—Unless a proportional inducement be offered, a lease will not be granted for a period of more than three 
years, but applicants arc requested to state at what rate per annum they are agreeable to rent the mines, and how 
many years’ lease they are desirous of obtaining, with particulars of all modifications they may wish made in the 
conditions now set forth. 
4^.—Parties proposing to rent the mines must be prepared to lodge in the treasury at Sambalpur one year’s 
rent in advance as security for the fulfilment of the terms of the lease taken up by them, and the rent will be do- 
mauded in threo instalments yearly. If at anytime during the lease, the period of one year, calculated from the 
date of payment of the last instalment, be allowed to elapse without the payment of an instalment, the security 
money shall be forfeited and the lease considered to have expired. 
t Coif Medlieott, Bundclkund, Mem. G. S, T., Vol. IT, p. 65. 
„ Mallet, Vindhyan Series, id., Vol. VII, p,69. 
„ King, Kadapah and Karnul formations, id., Vol, VIII, p. 87. 
t By a few small streams which rise in an isolated outlying hill called Gotwaki. It should he slated, however, 
that one of the tributaries of the Ebe, the Ioha, far away in Gangpur, is said to produce diamonds; but the state¬ 
ment needs confirmation, and the geology of that part of the country is at present quite unknown. Near its sources, 
far away in Chota Nagpur, I have heard the Ebe spoken of as the Hira Nad. 
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