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DIAMONDS.
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nothing is known.* Another diamond, in the possession of Narain Singh, is said to have weighed about a tola, the
equivalent of which, calculated as above, would be 45.35 carats.
Already one of 16.5 carats has been mentioned as having been sent to
Calcutta in 1766. One large but slightly flawed diamond, which I saw in
the possession of a native in Sambalpur, was valued in Calcutta, after
cutting, at Rs. 2,500. Mr. Emanuel, in his work on " Diamonds and
Precious Stones," gives some particulars regarding the diamonds of
Sambalpur. He records one diamond of 84 grains having been found within
the period of British rule. There are said to be a good many diamonds
still in the hands of the wealthier natives in Sambalpur. Of course,
large diamonds such as those above mentioned, are 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 47 grains =1-48 carats. In the Geological Museum at Calcutta
there is at present a diamond which was sent to the Asiatic Society of
Bengal, from Sambalpur, by Major Ouseley. It weighs only -855 grains =
'26 carats.
As is usual, I believe, in all parts of India, the diamonds were classed as follows :—
1. Brahman.—White, pure water. 2. Kshatrya— Rose or reddish. 3. Vasiya.—Smoky. 4. Sudra.— Dark and impure.
Since
the above was first published, as the result chiefly of local and
personal inquiries, I have had an opportunity of consulting a work by
Surgeon Breton,
*
Tavernier's method of ascertaining the value of any diamond was to
square the number of carats, and then multiply the result by the value
of a one-carat stone of equal purity.
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