approach to the mines via this route is easier, and it passes between
Shakkasim and Shaknan. This is why the governor of Wakhan keeps the
more precious jewels for himself, and precious jewels pass this way clandestinely. Jewels weighing beyond a certain size are prohibited from
being carried outside the mine, and only stones weighing up to the sizes
he has fixed or specified are permitted to be taken out.
It is said that the mine was located when there was an earthquake in
the area and the mountain was cloven. Big rocks fell down and everything was destroyed. Rubies were disgorged in the process. Women
thought the stone was something with which clothes could be dyed.
They ground the stones, but no colour came out. Women showed the
rubies to men and the matter was publicised. The king ordered the
miners to locate the mine. When they found it they began to excavate it.
The mines and whatever could be found therein began to be associated with kings and their names, e.g., Bu al-'Abbasi, Sulaymani, and
Rahmani. Sometimes the mines are associated with the neighbouring
villages and places, e.g. Nayazki which is derived from the peak of a
mountain, Nayazak, This name bears no relationship to spear.
The ruby is mined in two ways. Either the mountainous mines are
excavated, or the soil or the particles coming out from the mountains is
sifted and searched for rubies. Sometimes the soil released by fissures in
the mountains is thrown here and there, and at others it is brought towards the valley by the flow of water. Search for rubies according to
this procedure is called tatri in the idiom of that area.
The acquiring of something from the mines is like gambling, or like
wandering in a wood aimlessly or like navigating the ocean without a
guide or sense of direction, since the search for the goal here depends
upon one's instinct. The same thing is true for the miners, who begin to
excavate and eat the mountain like the termite. Usually, nothing happens, if the excavation is prolonged and nothing comes out, they return
frustrated as losers, if they succeed in locating a white stone, which is
marmoreal, fragile, has the flint-stone or some other stone around it,
they call it on the analogy of fleshy glands — ghudud (this stone is khakicoloured but inclined towards whiteness) and continue with the excavation, as the location of such a stone symbolises the realisation of hope
and continuance of action. Continuous excavation leads them to a stone
called sharistah which is a very fragile stone and which crumbles as soon
as it is taken out. Though useless, it signals approach to scucess. Finally,
digging takes the miners to a stone which is compact and non-brittle
and which can be threaded so as to make beads for the collars of animals.
Karkind presages the presence of ruby. This stone also signals the location of what is sought, that is, it is characterised by turbidity, solidity,
and translucence. Excavation beyond this stone leads to the jewels.
