Vol. VIII, No. 4.] The Pitt Diamond. 137 
[V.8.] 
introduce, and whose services, as far as we can see, could be 
dispensed with ? 
The oldest account of the robbery, which I can find, is in 
Tavernier’s Travels. Tavernier came a first time to Dacca ap- 
parently in 1640, during his second journey to India. During 
his sixth and last journey, he visited Dacca again (January 1666) 
and arrived at Higli on February 20th, staying on till March 
2nd, 1666. If we must judge from his diary, he never visited 
Jagannath. His description of the temple militates, besides, 
‘* Jagrenate,’’ he writes, ‘‘is one of the mouths of Ganges, 
whereupon is built the great Pagod, where the rich Bramin 
or Chief Priest among the Idolaters keeps his residence. The 
great Idol aye stands | upon the Altar in the innermost part of 
the Pagod, has two Diamonds for his Eyes, and another that hangs 
about his ask: the least of those Diamonds weighing about forty 
Carats. About his Arms he wears Bracelets sometimes of 
feed fifteen or twenty thousand Pilgrims every day : which is 
a number often seen there, that Pagod being the ance place 
of devotion in all India. ‘But you must take notice, that no 
Goldsmith is suffered to enter this Pagod, because that one of 
them being lock’d in all night, stole a Diamond out of one of 
the Idol’s eyes. As he was about to go out, when the Pagod 
was open’d in the morning, he dy’d at the door ; their God, as 
they affirm, revenging his own sacriledg. . 
If the culprit was pert) struck dead, the jewel must have 
been recovered and, for aught we know, it should be still in the 
hands of the temple authorities. 
Father J. V. Bouchet, S.J., who joined the Madura Mission 
in 1688 and had started the Carnatic Mission in 1702, hes the 
following i in a letter from Pondicherry, 19th April, 1719 
«Ja agrenat is celebrated for its Pagoda. Our siavcllake & 
l E. T. Tavenntiis Collection a avinels: rng , being the Provels of 
Monsieur Se nataed r, ...., London, 1684, Vol. I, Pt. II, page 1738. 
in his edition of Taver nier’s Pach, London, 1889, Vol. 
If, page 295, identifies ‘‘ Kesora ”’ Sand ag with Krishna. Might a 
R 
«« Resora’’ re present a partial render of ‘* Paramegvara ’’= G 
Some hag or oa ee ‘gprs 8 = deseription look SS similar to 
val engagem + 29 
ce 
cer 
vounsks of the the King of Calicut ¢ (1502) the Subtapussn were victo : 
booty was considerable, the chief Thing an Idol of Gold, weigh 30 
pound, of monstrous shape, is rte were fies Emrauds, ts Bre 
was a large Ruby, and part of him was covered with a Cloak . gold set 
with jewels.’’ Cf. The Portugues Tease, London, 1695, Vol. I, Pt. I, Ch. 
VI, No.7. In Vol. II, Pt. 1V, Ch. VI, ibid., page 393, there is a pt escrip- 
tion of the a of Rettora near anganore: ‘* The idol is still 
inestimable value, and h any precious stones ; in the Forehead three 
rubies that exceed all price, dis ke Feet Buskins valued 200,000 Ducats. 
