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Onyx, Nicolo

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230
NATURAL HISTORY OF GEMS.
to be all nearly alike. The superficial bed consists of gravel, then red and yellow ochre, below which fuller's earth and ochre again ; then a thin team of rock containing a large proportion of iron, below which lies the clay in which the Carnelians are embedded.
" Each miner on his return to Euttunpoor in the evening carries a basketful of good stones, when they are spread out on the ground and exposed to the sun. They are thus col­lected for a whole year, and turned every four or five days: the longer they are exposed to the sun the deeper or brighter the colour becomes when the stone is polished.
" In the month of May they undergo the process ot burning, which is effected by placing the stones in black earthen cltatties or pots. The pot is placed with the mouth downwards and a hole is broken in the bottom ; a piece ot broken pot is then placed over the hole, and the whole is then covered with sheeps'-dung, as no other material is said to answer for fuel in this operation. The pots are arranged in single rows, and the fires, which are always lighted at sunset, are allowed to burn till sunrise, when the pots are examined, and should there appear any white spots on the surface of the chatty, it is considered that the stones are not sufficiently burned, and they are allowed to remain for a short time longer. After this process the stones are all re­examined : those that have flaws, &c, are thrown aside, and those that are not sufficiently burned are laid by for next year's burning ; the remainder are sold for exportation.
" The revenue derived from the mines is very insig­nificant at present ; but with proper management I should say it might amount to something considerable, if we may judge from the custom derived by the Nawaub of Cambay, where almost all the stones are cut and polished and pay a heavy duty both on importation and exportation. Very few, if any, stones are now cut at Broach.
Onyx, Nicolo Page of 384 Onyx, Nicolo
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