GOLCONDA

From Agepedia

GOLCONDA (now called Hyderabad); a province of Hindostan, in the Deccan, bounded N. by Berar, E. by the Circars, S. by the Mysore and the Carnatic, and W. by Dowlatabad and Bejapour. It is situated chiefly between lat. 16° and 19° N. Its ancient name was Tellingana, and it was formerly a portion of a very extensive empire, which comprised all the peninsula from cape Comorin to the northern extremity of Orissa. Much of the soil is very fertile, and produces great crops of cotton, rice and other grain; also vines in abundance. It has been chiefly celebrated for its diamond mines, the principal of which are in the neighborhood of Raolconda and Culloor. 6000 men were constantly employed in these mines, but they have ceased to be important, and now hardly pay the expense of working. This country is subject to the Nizam. Having long been under a Mohammedan government, a considerable portion of the inhabitants are of that religion; the majority, however, are Hindoos; but the people are by no means equal to those of the British provinces. Hyderabad is the chief town.