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164 THE DIAMOND
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Some
work was done in these mines in 1869, but the results did not warrant a
continuance of operations. West of Cuddapah, the diamondiferous layers
lie somewhat deeper, in places fifteen or sixteen feet, and the
diamonds and accompanying minerals are very much waterworn, being
sometimes nearly round. As is usually the case with diamonds of this
character, they were particularly hard and brilliant. The color ranged
from deep yellow to white. The minerals accompanying the diamonds are,
various kinds of quartz, corundum, etc., and the stones are fragments
of the same kind of rock of which the mountains rising from the river
valley are composed.
A
little north and west of the Cuddapah district mines, are those of the
Bellary district, also situated in what is known as the Madras
Presidency. Most of them lie south of the Kistna and about one of its
tributaries. Among them are the famous mines of Wajrah Karur. A number
of the exceptional stones of the past are said to have come from these
mines, and of late years the " Gordon Orr," weighing 62 carats, was
found in 1883, and another of 68 carats later. The Gordon Orr changed
hands at 5,000 and 15,000 rupees and was cut to a brilliant of 24-7/8
carats. These stones were taken from a section of the Bellary district
newly apportioned and called the Anantapur district.
Early
in the sixteenth century Bellary was in the Kingdom of Bisnager or
Vijayanagar, having Hampi as its capital. The mines were a source of
great revenue to the ruler. The kingdom was overthrown by the
Mohammedan powers in 1565 after the battle of Telikota.
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