190 
Records of the Geological Survey of India. 
[vol. x. 
The mere fact that the place Hira Ivhund, 'where the diamonds were washed, is on meta- 
morphic rocks, may he readily explained by the physical .features 
of the ground. The rocky nature of the bed there and the double 
channel caused by the island afforded unusual facilities for, in the first place, the retention of 
the diamonds brought down by the river ; and secondly, for the operations by which the bed 
could on one side be laid bare and the gravel washed by the simple contrivances known to 
the natives. 
It is impossible to say at present which the actual bed or beds may be from whence the 
diamonds have been derived, as there is no record or appearance of the rock ever having been 
worked; but from the general lithological resemblance of the sandstones and shales of the Bara- 
„ , . , pahar hills and the outlier at Borla with the diamond-bearing beds 
Rocks similar to diamond . . . . ,, .... ,, .... . 
matrix at Fauna and Banagau- and their associates at Panna m Bundilkhana and Banaganpilli m 
plUl ' Karnul, I have very little hesitation in pointing to these rocks as in 
all probability including the matrix. Above Padampur the Mahanadi runs through rocks of 
Most favorable localities this a S e > and 1 should therefore strongly urge upon any one who may 
for future operations. hereafter embark upon the undertaking of searching for diamonds 
in Sambalpur to confine his operations, in the first instance, to the streams and small rivers 
which rise in the Barapahar hills and join the Mahanadi on the south. Besides the obvious 
advantage of being, as I believe would be found to he the case, close to the matrix, these 
streams would, I think, be found to contain facilities for obtaining a sufficient head of water 
for washing purposes. The works would require but a few laborers, and could be carried on 
for a much longer period every year, say for eight or nine months, than would he possible in 
the case of the washings in the bed of the Mahanadi itself. 
According to the accounts received by me, the southern channel of the Mahanadi used 
not to be emptied in the Bajah’s time ; but from various causes I should expect it to yield, 
proportionally, a larger number of diamonds than the northern. In the first place, the 
stronger current in it would he more efficient in removing the substances of less specific 
gravity than diamonds, while the rocks and deep holes in it afford admirable means for the 
retention of the latter. Again, it is in direct contact with the sandstones and shales (pre¬ 
sumedly diamond-hearing) of the outlying ridge at Borla. Owing to the greater body of 
water to he dealt with, it would he found to be more difficult to divert than that which flows 
in the northern channel; hut the result in a greater harvest of diamonds would probably far 
more than compensate for the greater expenditure incurred. 
In the country to the south of Sambalpur, in Kami and Nowagavh, where rocks of 
similar age occur to those of the Barapahar hills, I failed to find 
Similar rocks further south , . , , , . . ,, , 
not known to he diamond- any traditional record ol diamonds having ever been bound or 
b " anng ' searched for. It is just possible, however, that the names of 
several villages in which the word Hira (diamond) occurs may have reference to some long- 
forgotten discovery. 
In addition to diamonds, pebbles of Beryl, Topaz, Carbuncle, Amethyst, Cornelian, and 
clear quartz used to be collected in the Mahanadi; but I have not 
seen either sapphires or rubies. It is probable that the matrix 
of these, or most of them, exists in the metamorphic rocks, and is therefore distinct from that 
of the diamonds. 
Gold. 
In all probability gold occurs pretty generally throughout those portions of the district in 
which metamorphic rocks prevail. So far as I have been able to gather from personal observa¬ 
tion, the washers confine themselves to the beds of the Mahanadi and Ebe ; but in the rains 
they are said to leave the larger rivers and wash in the small jungle-streams. 
