the current falls about six inches into the trough, and may be directed to any part of it, or stopped at pleasure, by means of a small quantity of clay. Along the lower ends of the troughs a small channel is dug, to carry off the water.

On the heap of earth, at equal distances, three high chairs are placed for the overseers, who are no sooner seated than the negroes enter the troughs, each provided with a rake of a peculiar form and having a short handle, with which he rakes into the trough from fifty to eighty pounds weight of the earth. The water being then allowed to pass in by degrees, the earth is spread abroad, and continually raked up to the head of the trough, so as to be kept in constant motion. This operation is continued for a quarter of an hour, when the water begins to run clearer; and, the earthy particles having been washed away, the gravel-like matter is raked up to the end of the trough. At length the current flowing quite clear, the largest stones are thrown out, and afterwards those of an inferior size; the whole is then examined with great care, for diamonds. When a negro finds one, he immediately stands upright, and claps his hands: he then extends them, holding the gem between the fore finger and the thumb. An overseer receives it from him, and deposits it in a bowl, suspended from the centre of the structure, and half filled with water. In this vessel all the diamondsfound in the course of the day, are deposited,

and at the close of the work are taken out and delivered to the principal overseer, who, after they have been weighed, registers the particulars in a book kept for that purpose,

When a negro is so fortunate as to find a diamond of the weight of seventeen carats and a half, the following ceremony takes place he is crowned with a wreath of flowers, and carried in procession to the administrator, who gives him his freedom, by paying his owner for jt. He also receives a present of new clothes, and is permitted to work on his own account. For smaller stones proportionate premiums are given; while many precautions are taken to prevent the negroes from stealing the diamonds, with which view they are frequently changed by the overseers, lest these precious gems should be concealed in the corners of the troughs. When a negro is suspected of secreting a diamond, he is confined in a solitary apartment, until a proper search has been made.

In the East Indies, the kingdom of Golconda, extending two hundred and sixty miles along the bay of Bengal, and having a breadth of two hundred miles from east to west, abounds in diamond mines. They are chiefly in the vicinity of the rocky hills and mountains which intersect the country, and in the whole of which, diamonds are supposed to be contained. In several of the mines they are found scattered in the earth, within two or three fathoms of the surface, and

in others are met with in a mineral substance in the body of the rocks, forty or fifty fathoms deep. The labourers having dug five or six feet into the rock, soften the stone by fire, and proceed till they find the vein, which often runs two or three furlongs under the rock. The earth being brought out and carefully searched, is found to contain stones of various sizes, and of a good lustre. This earth is of a yellowish, and sometimes of a reddish cotour, frequently adhering to the diamond, with so strong a crust, that the separation becomes difficult.

To bring the diamond to perfection, it must be cut and polished; for, previous to this, it has the appearance of one of those small, light-coloured, and clear pebbles, which are found on the seashore. It is so hard, however, that it can be cut and ground only by itself, and its own substance. For this purpose, the lapidary begins, by rubbing a couple of these stones against each other, while rough, having first glued them to the ends of two wooden blocks, thick enough to be held in the hand. The powder thus rubbed off, and received in a small box for the purpose, serves to grind and polish them afterwards.

In the formation of a diamond which is intended for ornament, so much is cast away, that the weight of the polished gem is not more than half that of the rough stone, out of which it was formed; whence, the value of a cut diamond is esteemed equal to that of a rough diamond of

twice its weight, exclusive of the cost of workmanship. The value also increases exceedingly according to the size; a diamond weighing four grains, being worth about £8, sterling, whereas one 100 times as large, is valued, by diamond merchants, at £80,000.

Let it here be mentioned, for the information of the reader, that the diamond has been lately discovered to be almost totally composed of the same matter as charcoal; purified, however, and hardened by nature, who, in her operations, knows no limit of time or of power. Those beautiful and glittering pebbles, therefore, which are used as ornaments by the great, and are worn about their dress, or upon their fingers, and for which they willingly pay large sums according to their size, are, in fact, nothing but pieces of pure charcoal.

Every day, after dinner, says Tavernier, speaking of the mines of Raolconda, in Visapore, the master of the miners brings the diamonds to the lodgings of the merchant, in order to shew them; and, if the stones are large, or sufficiently numerous to amount to more than the sum of 2000 crowns, he will leave them some days, that the merchants may have time to consider their value, and agree about the price. This, it seems, they are obliged to do before the return of the overseer, who will never bring the same stones again, unless mixed with others.

It appears, from the same traveller's accoum,