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LVII.
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THE FERDINAND.
The Raulconda Mines.—Tinted Stones—A Diamond that Broke into Fragments on the Cutter's Wheel—" Bort" —A Curious Freak of Nature.
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BOUT
five days' journey from Golconda, and about half as much again from
Bejapoor, there is an extensive plain, where diamonds were found in the
15th and 16th centuries, of great purity and of unusual size. It was
known as the Raulconda ; but early in the 17th century, between this
plain and a no less productive mine at Coloor, some stones of very
imperfect consistency, were discovered, which shattered easily when
placed under the wheel. The pure water, for which the stones of old
Raulconda were celebrated in all countries, was wanting in this new
source of diaman-tiferous wealth. A yellow or reddish grey was visible
in the stones, although the genuine brilliancy of the diamond was
unimpaired. However much the geologist might be interested in these
peculiarities, which in some particulars characterized many of the
findings at Coloor, the mercantile world received the new consignments
with indignation, and the king of Golconda therefore deemed it
incumbent on him to close the mine. In the meantime, a stone weighing
42 carats was found and taken to Surat, where
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