136 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [April, 1912. 
led a joyous life, regaling himself with delicate dishes... when- 
ever he pleased. The great man lived for some years 
in this way, when ‘disgusted at leading such an unbridled and 
luxurious life, he resolved to employ the wealth of the temple 
in another way. To this intent he wrote to Goa to one of his 
brothers, with instructions how to act. The brother, alts 
into a merchant, appeared at the temple, when the would-be 
holy man recognized him, displaying great iibaishiient, and 
telling him he was a great sinner, rash in his undertakings, and 
if he did not amend he would be heavily punished. 
** The Sage brother fell at his feet, saying he hoped to 
receive the means of salvation by the passing of an order to 
admit him for Savelal days into the temple to be catechized and 
put in the right way. Both brothers feasted at night within tlie 
temple, and took counsel together how they could carry off the 
ealth. The consultations were so secret that they were able to 
carry off all the wealth of the temple without being found out. 
At their secret departure they gouged out the eyes of the idols, 
they being valuable diamonds; then, they disappeared after 
fastening the temple doors. The Brahmans and other devout 
persons who came to perform their ceremonials imagined that 
the saint was at his orisons. When three days had passed they 
entered and found out the trick, and were a From 
that time they allow no Christian ‘to enter. 
t is difficult to date many of Manucci’s ii This is one 
of them. For our purpose it is enough to remark that it occurs 
in the 3rd part of Manucci’s Memoirs, which was written in 1699 
and 1700, the three first parts having been carried to Europe by 
Deslandes in 1770. It is not surprising, therefore, that the story 
had not developed further; but it is, perhaps, suggestive that 
Manucci, who wrote Part IV of his Storia between 1701 and 1705, 
and Part V between 1706 and 1709, should allude nowhere to 
the Pitt Diamond.” He had, however, been employed by Pitt 
on several occasions ( 1798-1709 ), lived at Madras and Pondi- 
cherry between cade oe 1717, and look a lively interest in all 
the scandals of his 
As for singin’ 8 x ele the fabulous nature of most of 
its magus is glaring. It is incredible that a European should 
a made absolute master of the temple, incredible that 
he ogi) have been admitted at all to its innermost recesses. 
How is it possible, too, that the theft should have been dis- 
covered only three ba later, when we know hu the temple 
swarms with priests and servants who, morning and ev ening, 
are in attendance on the idols 2 Why again did the Portuguese 
want a » partner from Goa, whont it _ would be so difficult to 


1 Cf. W. Irving, rca do Mogo 653-170. ’ 
Vol. il, 1907, pages 140-1 ogor (1653-1708), London, Murray, 
2 Cf. ibid., vol. I, pan xxxix, Ixxiv. 
