AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1563-81. 



Idol homes great store of leafe-gold, for that they overlay all the 

 covered with j-Qpg ^f ^-j^g houses with gold, and some of them are 

 ^^ ' covered with golde from the top to the foote : in cover- 



ing whereof there is great store of gold spent, for that 

 every 10. yeeres they new overlay them with gold, from 

 the top to the foote, so that with this vanitie they spend 

 great aboundance of golde. For every 10. yeres the 

 raine doeth consume the gold from these houses. And 

 by this meanes they make golde dearer in Pegu then 

 it would bee, if they consumed not so much in this 

 vanitie. Also it is a thing to bee noted in the buying 

 of jewels in Pegu, that he that hath no knowledge shall 

 have as good jewels, and as good cheap, as he that hath 

 bene practized there a long time, which is a good order, 

 and it is in this wise. There are in Pegu foure men of 

 good reputation, which are called Tareghe, or brokers of 

 Jewels. These foure men have all the jewels or Rubies 

 in their handes, and the Marchant that wil buy commeth 

 to one of these Tareghe and telleth him, that he hath 

 so much money to imploy in Rubies. For through 

 Ruhes exceed- the hands of these foure men passe all the Rubies: for 

 ing c eape in ^^^ have such quantitie, that they knowe not what to 

 doe with them, but sell them at most vile and base 

 prices. When the Marchant hath broken his m.ind to 

 one of these brokers or Tareghe, they cary him home 

 to one of their Shops, although he hath no knowledge 

 in Jewels : and when the Jewellers perceive that hee 

 will employ a good round summe, they will make a 

 bargaine, and if not, they let him alone. The use 

 generally of this Citie is this ; that when any Mar- 

 chant hath bought any great quantitie of Rubies, and 

 hath agreed for them, hee carieth them home to his 

 house, let them be of what value they will, he shall 

 have space to looke on them and peruse them two or 

 three dayes : and if he hath no knowledge in them, he 

 shall alwayes have many Marchants in that Citie that 

 have very good knowledge in Jewels ; with whom he 

 may alwayes conferre and take counsell, and may shew 



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