'Collections of travels through Turky into Persia, and the East Indies. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, as also a full relation of the five years wars, between Aureng-Zebe and his brothers in their father's life time, about the succession. And a voyage made by the Great Mogul (Aureng-Zebe) with his Army from Dehli to Lahor, from Lahor to Bember, and from thence to the Kingdom of Kachemire, by the Mogols, call'd, the Paradise of the Indies. Together with a relation of the Kingdom of Japan and Tunkin, and of their particular manners and trade. To which is added a new description of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and also of all the Kingdoms that encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas, being the travels of Monsieur TavernierBernier, and other great men.' [‎99] (418/1024)

Book L
Travels in India.
99
The tenth day he fent for us in the morning, and after he had caus’d us to
fit down by him, he fent for five frnall Bag$ full of Diamonds, every Bag con
taining a good handful. They wfre loofe Stones, of a very black Water, and
very fmall ^ none of them exceeding a Carat, or a Carat and a half ; but other-
wife very clean. There were fome few that might weigh two Carats. After
the Nahab had fhew’nusall, he ask’d us whether they would fell in our Goufi*
tr y. We made anfwer, that they might have been for fale in our Country,
provided they had not been of a black Water; for that in Europe we never
efteem’d any Diamonds, but fuch as were clean and white, having but a fmall •
dteem for any others. It feems, that when he firfl: undertook the Conqueft of
this Kingdom for the King ofGolcond^ they inform’d him that there were Dia
mond Mines in it. Whereupon he fent twelve thoufand men to dig there; who
in a whole years time could find no more than thofe five fmall Bags full.Where-
upon the Nahab perceiving that they could find none but brown Stones, of a
Water enclining much more to black than white, thought it but lofs of time,
and fo fent all the people back to their Husbandry.* ,
The eleventh, the French Canoneers came all to the Nahabs Tent, com
plaining that he had not paid them the four, months pay which he had pro
mis’d them; threatning him,that ifjie did not difcharge it,they would leave him;
to which the Nahab promis’d to give them fatisfa&ion the next day.
The twelfth,the Canoneers notfailing to give him another vilit, the Nahab paid*
them three months, and promis’d to pay them the fourth before the month
were out; but fo foon as they had receiv’d their Money, they fell a feafling
one another, fo that the Dancing Wenches carried away the greateil part of
their Coin.
The thirteenth, the Nahab went out to fee the Guns which Maille had under
taken to call. For which purpbfe he had fent for Brafs from all parts, and
got together a great number of Idols which the Soldiers had pillag’d out of
the Pagods as they march’d along. Now you muft know, that in Gandt-
fot there was one Pagod, faid to be the faireft mail /Whz, wherein there were
feveral Idols, fome of Gold, and others of Silver; amongft the reft there were
fix of Brafs, three fitting upon their Heels, and three upon their Feet, ten foot
high. Thefe Idols were made ufe of among the reft. But when Maille alfo
had provided all things ready, he could not make thofe fix Idols run, that were
taken out of the great Pagod of Gandkot, though he melted all the reft. He
try'd feveral ways, but it was impoflible for him to do it, whatever expence
the Nahab was at; nay though the Nahab threaten’d to hang the Priefts for
having inchanted thofe Idols. And thus 'Maille could never make any more than
only one fingle piece, and that fplit upon trial; fo that he was forc’d to leave
the work unfinilh’d, and foon after left the Nahabs fervice.
The fourteenth, we went to take our leaves of the Nahab^ and to know
what he had further to fay to us, concerning the Commodities we had then
ihew’n him. But then he told us, he was bufie at prefent about the examina
tion of certain Offenders which were brought before him. For it is the cuftom
of that Country,never to put a man in Prifon; but as foon as the Offender is taken,
he is examin’d, and fentence is pronounc’d upon him, according to his crime,
which is immediately executed ; or if the party taken,be found innocent, he is as
foon acquitted. And let the controverfie be of what nature it will, it is pre-
fently decided. .
The fifteenth in the morning, we went to wait upon him again,and were im
mediately admitted into his Tent, where he fat with his two Secretaries by him.
The Nahab was fitting according to the cuftom of the Country,bare-foot, like one
of our Taylors,with a great number of Papers fticking between his Toes, and
othersbetween the Fingers ofhis left hand,which Papers he drew fometimes from
between his Toes,fometimes from between his Fingers, & order’d what anfwers
Should be given to every one.After his Secretaries had wrote the anfwers, he caus’d
mem to read them,and then took the Letters and feal’d them himfelf; giving fome
lo Foot Meffengers, others to Horfemen. For you muft know,that all thofe Let-
Lrs which are fent by Foot-Pofts all over India, go with more fpeed than
LiOfe which are carried by Horfemen. The reafon is, becaufe at the end of
-* O 2 every