extracts from Tavernier’s voyacjes.

247

ftandard, and fomc again ihort of weight, fo much fo, that were they to take themwithout examining, they would be confiderable lofers, and for the trouble of perfectingthem, incur a charge of from one to perhaps five or fix cent, added to which they givethe changers a quarter per cent, for their trouble. When the miners are paid, theyalfo never receive thefe pagodas without the changer’s prefence, who points out thegood and the bad, taking as before’a quarter per cent, for himfelf. But to fave time,when they are about to make a confiderable payment, of perhaps a thoufand or twothoufand pagodas, the changer on receiving his duty, inclofes them in a little fack, onW'hich he fixes his mark, and when they are about to pay the merchant for his dia-monds, they bring him with the bag to the changer, who feeing his mark unaltered,afiures him that he has examined the contents, and will be anfwerable for any that areHot good.

With regard to the roupees, they take indifferently both thofe of the Great Mogultind the King of Golconda, becaufe fuch as are coined by the King bear the Mogul’snnpreffion, as they agree.

Befides, the Indians have more wit, and are more refined than people think. Thepagoda is a thick little piece of gold, not bigger than the nail of the little finger, and asfrom their fize it is impoffible to clip them without its being known, they have the ad-drefs to bore little holes all round, from whence they get to the value of about threeor four pence in gold dull, and they know how to conceal it fo cleverly, that no onecan perceive they have been touched. Moreover, when they go to buy any thing in avillage, or when they pafs a river, if a roupee is given to them in change, they directlylight a fire and put it in, when if it comes out white they keep it, if on the contrary itblack they return it, for all the money in the Indies is of the firfl ftandard, and if anybe brought from Europe , it mult be carried to the mint. I mult alfo obferve, that they aremuch deceived, who (as a merchant would have perfuaded me during my firft travels)imagine it is quite enough to carry to the mines, fpices, tobacco, looking glaffes, and othertrifles of that fort, in order to receive diamonds in exchange; but I have had convincingproof to the contrary, and can pofitively affirm, that the merchants who fell the dia-monds at the mine will take nothing but fine gold of the bell quality.

Laftly, with refpedt to the roads we mull pafs to arrive at the mines.—In fome mo-dern accounts, which are a little fabulous, we are told, as I have before obferved, thatthey are dangerous and difficult, abounding with lions, tigers, and favages; but Ifound them quite different to what they had been reprefented, meeting with no wild'beafts, and the pec-Ie full of kindnefs and franknefs towards flrangers. As to Gol-conda, they can have been but little acquainted with the map of that country, to be igno-rant of its fituation; but from Golconda to Raolconda, which is the principal mine, theroad is lefs known, and the following is the route I have taken. In this country .theroads are meafured by the gos, one of which is equal to four French leagues.

From Golconda to Canapour, gos - - - - - 1

From Canapour to Parquel, gos ------

From Parquel to Cakenol, gos ------ 1

From Cakenol to Canol-Candanor, gos - - - 3

From Canol-Candanor to Setapour, gos - - - 1

From Setapour to the River , gos ----- 2

"This river is the frontier of the kingdoms of Golconda and Vifapour.

From the River to Alpour, gos ------ f

From Alpour to Canal, gos.£

From Canal to Raolconda, where the mine is, gos 2f

6

So