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102 GOLD.
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country.
Men, women, and children even of the coolie class are commonly to be
seen wearing ornaments of pure gold. Golden nose ornaments are worn
almost universally by the women and children. In the northern parts of
India the ornaments which are worn are generally made of the baser
metals or of glass, &c. In times of famine or distress in Southern
India these golden ornaments are disposed of in order to procure food.
Throughout India the use of jewellery by the higher classes is
sufficiently notorious not to require special comment; but the use of
pure gold by the lower orders is in a great measure, I believe,
peculiar to Madras.
In
the year 1831, the Government appointed a Commission to make inquiries
into the gold-yielding district of the Wynaad, but the matter was for a
time allowed to drop. During the last decade, however, largely in
consequence of the number of Europeans attracted to the coffee
plantations, interest in the subject was again aroused, and several
pioneer companies were formed; but although favourable percentages
were obtained by assays the practical results of quartz crushing were
counted only in pennyweights per ton, and owing to defective management
and imperfect machinery, the time expended, and consequently the cost
of production, proved greater than the receipts.
Mr.
Brough Smith is of opinion that if proper care be taken under skilled
management the working of gold in Southern India must ultimately become
a profitable undertaking :—
The average yield out of 137 samples assayed was 2 oz. 13dwts. 2grs. per ton, or, if one exceptional sample,
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