'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.' [‎141] (460/1024)

Book II.
Travels in I n d i a.
.. .-wJi V,' i'..
I •*'
■ J - 1 11 ——^ L --—Vimh mm ■! ' . . i •- ID
At the two Mines about RhiimAd in the Kingdom of nfMkr, the paraien-c
are made in new Pagods, which the King coins in his own Name, as bemn hide
pendent from the GreAt Mogul. The new Pagod is not always at the fame value •
for it is fometimes worth three Roupies and a half, fometimes more and Tome*
times lefs; being advanc’d and brought down according to the coiirfe of Trade"
and the correfpondence of the Bankers with the Princes and Governors ’
At the Mine of Colour or Gum which belongs to the Kingdom of Co to*,
they make their payments in new Pagods, which are equal In value to the Kins of
Vifmmh. But fometimes you are forc’d to give four in the hunder’d more bv
reafon they are better Gold, and befides, they will take no others at the Mine
Thefe Pagods are coin d by the Englijh and Hollanders, who, whether willingly or
by force, are pnviledg d by the King to coin them in their Forts .• And thole of
the Hollanders coft one or two per cast, more than the EnglithHy reafon thev are
better Gold, and for that the Miners choofe them before the other But in re
gard the Merchants are prepoffefs’d that the Miners are a rudeand favaeefort of
people, and that the ways are dangerous, they flay at where the Work-
makers keep correfpondence with them, and fend them their Jewels Thefe the?
pay in old Pagods coin’d many ages ago by feveral Princes that Reign’d in Indus
before the Mabimetans got footing therein. Thofe old Pagods are worth four
Roupies and a half, that is to fay, a Roupy more than the ne w : not that there is
any more Gold in them,orthat they weigh any more. Only the Bankers, to ob
lige the King, not to bring down the price,pay him Qpnually a very great Sum bit
reafon they get very much by it. For the Merchants receive none of thofe Pa
gods without a Changer to examin them, fome being all defac’d,others low-metal
ethers wanting weight •• fo that if one of thefe Bankers were not prefent at the
receipt, the Merchant would be a greater lofer, fometimes one, fometimes Eve
fometimes fix i’th’ hunder’d .• for which they alfo pay them one quarter in the
hunder d for their pains. When the Miners are paid, they alfo receive their Mo-
prefence of Bankers, who tells them which is good, and which
is bad ; and has for that alfo one quarter Fth’ hunder’d. In the payment of
a thoufand or two-thoufand Pagods,the Banker,for his fee, puts them into a bag,
and leals it with his Seal; and when the Merchant pays for his Diamonds he
tangs the Seller to the Banker, who finding his bag entire,alfures the party that
all is right and good within; and fo there is no more trouble.
As for the Roupies, they take indifferently, as well the Great MoruU as the
King of Golconda’s : by reafon that thofe which that King coins, arc to be coin’d
by Articles, with the Great Mogul % itamp. ’
’Tis an idle thing to believe that vulgar error, that it is enough to carry Spices,
robacco, Looking-glaffes, and fuch trifles to truck for Diamonds at the Indian-
Mines •• For I can affure ye, thefe people will not only have Gold, but Gold of the
belt fort too.
As for the roads to the Mines, fome fabulous modern relations have render’d
them very dangerous, and fill’d them full of Lions,Tigers,and cruel People; but
t lound them not only free from thofe wild creatures, but alfo the People very
loving and courteous. ' ‘ L .
From Golconda to Raoltonda,which is the principal Mine,the road is as follows:
the road being meafur’d by Gos, is four FrewA-leagues.
From Golconda to Canapour, one Gos.
From Canapour to Parquet, two Gos and a half.
From Parquel to Cakgnol, one Gos.
From Cakgnol to Canol-Candanor, three Gos:
From Canol-Candanor to Setapour, one Gos.
From Setapour to the River, two Gos.
That River is the bound between the Kingdoms of and fifapotir.
From the River to Htpour, three quarters of a Gbs.
From Hlpour to Canal, three quarters of a Gos.
From Canal to Raolconda, two Gos and a half.
. us fromGoleonda to theMine,they reckon it feventeen Gofs,ord8Fre»rli-Leagues.
rom Golconda to the Mine of Contour or Gant, is reckon’d thirteen Gos and
wree quarters, or 5 5 Frewfe-leagues.
From