DIAMOND-MINE of Gani or Coulour.—In this mine are found a great number of stones from 10 to 40 carats, and even more; and it was here that famous diamond of Aureng-Zeb the Great Mogul, which before it was cut weighed 793 carats, was found. The stones of this mine are not very clear; their water is usually tinged with the quality of the soil; being black where that is marshy, red where it partakes of red, sometimes green and yellow, if the ground happen to be of those colours. Another defect of some consequence is a kind of greasiness appearing on the diamond, when cut, which takes off part of its lustre.—There are usually no less than 60,000 persons, men, women, and children, at work in this mine.
When the miners have found a place where they intend to dig, they level another somewhat bigger in the neighbourhood thereof, and inclose it with walls about two foot high, only leaving apertures from space to space, to give passage to the water. After a few superstitious ceremonies, and a kind of feast which the master of the mine makes for the workmen, to encourage them, every one goes to his business, the men digging the earth in the place first discovered, and the women and children carrying it off into the other walled round. They dig 12 or 14 foot deep, and till such time as they find water. Then they cease digging; and the water thus found serves to wash the earth two or three times, after which it is let out at an aperture reserved for that end. This earth being well washed, and well dried, they sift it in a kind of open sieve, or riddle, much as we do corn in Europe; then thrash it, and sift it afresh; and lastly, search it well with the
hands to find the diamonds. They work naked as in the mine of Raolconda, and are watched after the like manner by inspectors. Diamond.