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Indian reserves and outlook
India supplied the world's demand for diamonds from ancient times till the second decade of the eighteenth century, when the Brazilian fields were discovered. Since 1867, South Africa became the most important producer, producing about 95% of the world's diamonds. These Indian diamond fields were exploited mostly by primitive people and by indigenous methods of mining. It is very likely that the Indian fields have not been thoroughly and systematically exploited; there may be areas of diamond gravels still remaining to be exploited. Since modem methods came into vogue, no large enterprise has attempted to work the Indian fields as Brazil and South Africa proved rich and produced large quantities. Now the Brazilian fields are slowly decaying; in South Africa the pipe mines have been closed down, and when the present alluvials became exhausted, it may be that the Indian fields may stand the chance of a re-examination.
It has been observed ' that both practical and scientific opinion is, however, in favour of the explanation that the lessened trade in modem times is more due to the con­servative character of the diggers in keeping their art a secret or to the exhaustion of the surface workings which their appliances and means are alone suitable for, than to the complete exhaustion or non-existence of fairly rich unexplored diamond beds. A few centuries ago, diamonds were undoubtedly more extensively produced in India than at the present day. India, was, indeed the first and for a long period known to the European nations.'
Ancient observers have recorded that Indian diamond mines were held for centuries by poor workmen, unaided by science, who had to depend on their hereditary skill. They had also to battle against the adversity and per­secution engendered through national disturbances that
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