Ball— ^ Geologists Contribution to the History of India. 107 



" The rubies, saphyres, and the spinels he gotten in the kingdom of 

 Pegu. The diamants come from divers places, and I know but three 

 sorts of them. That sort of diamants that is called chiappe cometh 

 from Bezeneger. Those that be naturally pointed come from the 

 land of Delly and lawa (by which we must understand Borneo), but 

 the diamants of lawa are more waightie then the other. I could 

 never understand from whence they that are called balassi come." 

 The signification of chiappe is uncertain. The naturally-pointed 

 stones probably came from Chutia Nagpur, or Kokrah, as it was 

 then called, since Tavernier describes the stones from that region 

 as being of this character, and it is believed that they were taken 

 to Delhi. The term '^balas" was applied to the spiael rubies 

 from Badakshan. Possibly, it may have been used for those 

 diamonds which had a roseate tinge. 



On another page Frederick says : — " Also, five days' journey 

 from Bezeneger, is the place where they get diamants. I was not 

 there, but it was told me that it is a great place, compassed with a 

 wall, and that they sell the earth within the wall for so much a 

 squadron, and the limits are set how deepe or how low they shall 

 digge. Those diamants that are of a certain size, and bigger then 

 that size, are all kept for the king. It is many years agone since 

 they got any there, for the troubles that have been in that 

 kingdom." 



Fitch and Newberry. — The famous traveller, Ealph Fitch, 

 and his companion, Newberry, have left on record an account of 

 their journeys in India, which refers to the years about 1583.^ 

 In reference to precious stones, the following are the most impor- 

 tant passages: — Bellergan, the modern Belgaum, was said to be 

 " a great market of diamants, rubies, sapphires, and many other 

 soft {i.e. precious) stones." We are told that a jeweller named 

 William Leades, who was one of their party, remained behind 

 them in the service of the King of Cambay. 



The next passage explains the use of the name lawa, or Java, 

 by Caesar Frederick, and others : — " Laban {i. e. Borneo, the name 

 being retained in Labuan) is an island among the lawas, from 

 whence come the diamants of the new water, and they find them 

 in the rivers, for the king will not suffer them to digge the rock." 



1 HaMuyt's English Voyages, vol. ii. 1599, p. 253. 



SCIEN. PROC. R.D.S. VOL. IV. PT. II. K 



