_Your most Humble and Obedient Servant_, N. Witsen. _Amsterdam_, _Jan. 1. 1694._ _A Description of the Diamond-mines, as it was presented by the Right Honourable the Earl Marshal of _England_, to the _R. Society_._ The parts of the World known to contain _Diamonds_, are the Island _Borneo_, and the Continent of _India extra & intra Gangem_: _Pegu_ is likewise reported to have several; but the King not potent, his Country being but thinly inhabited, contents himself with his Mines of _Rubies_, _Saphires_, _Topasses_, _Emeralds_, _Gold_, _Silver_, _Brass_, _Tinn_ and _Lead_, and several other Commodities his Country affords, in great plenty, rather than to suffer new enquiries to be made, lest the Discovery of such an additional Treasure should invite some of his Neighbours, more potent to invade him. But leaving the description of other Places to those that know them better, I shall only keep my self to the Coast of _Coromandel_, with which I am acquainted, and having visited several of its Mines, am able to say something thereof Experimentally. The Diamond-Mines in these parts are generally adjacent to Rocky-hills, or Mountains, whereof begins a great Ledge or Range near _Cape Comorin_, extending in Breadth about 50 _English_ Miles, some conjoyning, others scatter'd: and running thence in length quite through _Bengula_. In, among, and near these Hills, in several places, are known to be (as its believed most of them have) Mines; many of them are possessed by petty Princes, or _Rajaes_, of the _Hundues_; some driven thither for shelter by the _Mores_, who have taken the greatest part of their Country from them; others never overcome, as the _Rajaes_, on the Hills in and near _Bengala_, who admit of little or no Commerce with their Neighbours, or passage through their Country, which (being Barren, in few Places affording good Water, the ways craggy and very toilsome, especially to an Army) the _Moors_ covet not, but let them enjoy it peaceably; yet to prevent danger, they forbid digging (as the King of _Pegu_ does) or dig some few Mines only very privately, so that a great part of the Mines are unsearcht and concealed. But the Kingdoms of _Golconda_ and _Visiapore_ contain in them scope enough of ground, known to have Mines sufficient to furnish all the World plentifully with Diamonds; but their Kings permit digging only in some Places appointed, lest, as it is imagined, they should become too common; and withal for fear of tempting the threatening greatness of _Aurenge Zebe_; forbidding also those Places that afford the largest Stones, or else keeping workmen in them for their own private uses: So that but a very small quantity (in Comparison of what might be) and those only of ordinary Size, are found.