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DIAMONDS.
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1 9
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Ramulkota.
The
position of these mines is variously stated as being from eighteen to
twenty-one miles from Karnul, in a southerly direction. They are also
described by Mr. King and Captain Nevvbold.
They
are now merely alluvial washings in the debris of the Banaganpilly
group, but formerly there were regular mines. Captain Newbold says ;—
The
pits, though not occupying so large a superficies, are deeper and far
more extensive than those near Kadapah ; the old excavations in the
rocks resemble those of Banaganpilly and Moonimudagu. The diamonds that
were shown me here, one in the parent rock, the conglomerate, were of
an inferior size and but few crystallized in the octohedral form. They
had severally white, grey, yellow and greenish tints, but it was told
me that those found in the conglomerate rock are generally of a
superior description, with a fine roseate tinge.
Mining
and washing was carried on as at Kadapah. There were 300 natives at
work in the wet season, but only 20 when visited by Newbold.
The contractors leased the mines for 750 rupees from the Nawab of Karnul, and sublet to minor speculators.
The hire of a labourer was four pice—or about three halfpence—and a meal of rice per diem.
Raolconda.
This
was the first mine visited and described by Tavernier,* who stated that
it was in the Karnatic, five days' journey from Golconda and eight or
nine from Visapour.
*
"Travels," Book II. pt. ii. chap. xii. "Of Diamonds and the Mines and
Rivers where they are found, and first of the Author's Journey to the
Mine of Raolconda." C 3
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