From the Book ‘ The Diamonds, Coal , and Gold of India by Valentine
Ball (1881)’ :
Mr Motte visited Sambalpur in 1766 to initiate regular trade in
diamonds with Sambalpur, Lord Clive being desirous of employing them as a
convenient means for remitting money to England. Mr Motte purchased few
diamonds. He visited the junction of river IB and Mahanadi, where the diamonds
were found.
Lieutenant Kitoo visited in
1838 and mentioned about diamonds in his note.
Major Ouseley next visited
Sambalpur and he has written an article (in 1840) in Asiatic Society’s journal
about diamonds of Sambalpur. During
Raja's period some fifteen or twenty villages were granted rent free to Jharas
(washers) in consideration of their
undertaking the search for diamonds. When British came, these villages were
resumed. The diamonds found became the property of Raja, while the gold was the
perquisite of the washers, who sold it at 12 to 15 rupees per tola. In the
centre of Mahanadi, near village Junan , there is an island called Hirakud . In
each year, about beginning of March, more
than five thousand people got engaged in collection and wash of diamond and
gold dust near village Junan.
Sambalpur was taken over by British in 1850. In 1856, a notification
was issued , and for a short time the lease was held by a European . Later on,
he stated that it was not commercially viable, and gave up voluntarily. As
such, the diamond business was finished forever.
Source : Orissa District
Gazetters-Samalpur
The village Junan and nearby mining
area, have been submerged under Hirakud Reservoir
Taj-i-Mah Diamond
- Crown of
the Moon -
Taj-i-Mah , the colourless diamond-146
carat, was found in Sambalpur
According to a version, the diamond originated in the diamond mines of
Sambalpur, which extends over a fertile land plane, 451 feet above sea level,
between Mahanadi and Brahmani Rivers, in the east of the central provinces of
India. The diamond river mentioned by Ptolemy, has been identified as the
Mahanadi river , in whose banks the Sambalpur mines are situated.xxx The
diamonds of the Mahanadi were generally of very good quality and ranked among
the finest and purest of Indian stones.
Source : Internet Stones.Com
