242 EXTRACT FROM TJERVJERNIEr’s VOYAGES.-
As to what relates to the water of the ftones, it muft be obferved, that whereas inEurope we examine the rough ftones by day, in order to judge of their water and thefpots which may be found on them ; the Indians on the contrary do it by night, andin a hole which they make in a wall of a foot fquare, they place a lamp with a largewick, by the light of which they judge of the water and clearnefs of the ftone held be--tween their fingers. The water which they call celeftial is the worft of all, and it isiinpoffible to know it while the ftone is unpoliflied, but as little can be difcovered onthe wheel, the infallible fecret of judging its water, is to carry it under a thick tree,where by the ftiade of the verdure they eafily difcover whether it is blue.
The firft time I vifited this mine, it employed nearly fixty thoufand perfons, men asWell as women and children in various offices, the men to dig, and the women andchildren to carry away the earth, for in working this mine they take a method: totallydifferent from that ufed at Raolconda.
As foon as the miners have pointed out the place for them to work, they feledfcanother fpot of ground of equal extent, or even larger, and after making it perfectlyfinooth, encompafled it with a wall of about two feet high, and at the foot of this littlewall, they make at every other ftep openings to carry oft' the water, which they inclofe(ill they wilh to let it out. This place being fo prepared, thofe who are appointed towork, alienable all together, men, women, and children, with the mafter that employsthem, accompanied by a party of his relations and friends. He brings with him aftone figure of the god they worlhip, which being fixed in the earth they all adore it,,by proftrating themfelves three times before it, their prieft in the mean time accompa-nying therri with a prayer. This being finilhed, he makes a certain mark on all theirforeheads with a pafte compofcd of faffron and gum, upon which he alfo flicks fevenor eight grams ot rice. Then after walhing their bodies with water which eachbrings in a pot, they all arrange themfelves in order, to partake of the feaft which the-mafter provides them at the commencement of their work to put them in fpirits, andencourage them to be faithful to him. This feaft confifts of nothing elfe than a plate-of rice for each, which is diftributed to them by the Bramin, becaufe every Idolater isallowed to eat what comes from the hand of their prieft, although, fuch is their fuper-ftition, that they will not eat any thing of their wives preparing, choofing rather to pre-pare their own victuals. The dilh on which the rice is ferved to them is nothing morethan leaves fewed together, which fomewhat refembles our walnut leaves. To thisalfo is added about a quarter 0 1 a pound of butter in a fmall brafs cup, mixed withfome fugar.
The repaft finilhed, all begin to work, the men digging the earth, and the childrencarrying it to the place I have before fpoke of, as previoufly prepared for it. They digto the depth of ten, twelve, or fourteen feet, but as foon as they meet with water thereis no hope of fuccefs. All the earth being carried to this place, men, women, and chil-dren taking pitchers of water from the pit they have dug, throw them on it, in order tomoiften it, fo letting it remain for a day or two according to the hardnefs, till it isperfectly foft. That done, they open the holes they have made in the wall to give paffageto the water, when throwing ftill more on it, they by that means draw away all themud, fo that nothing remains but the fand. There is fome earth requires to be wafhedtwo or three times, when letting the w hole dry in the fun, which by reafon of its greatheat is foon done, they take certain bafkets, made fomewhat like our lifters, intowhich putting the earth, they lift it as we do grain, by which the fmall dull is fe-parated from it.
Having