144 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [April, 1912.) 
follow him into the field. And it was a rich Black Merchant in 
the Mogull’s Camp that sold the great Diamond to Mr. Pitt about 
the Year 1700, which he afterwards sold to the French King for 
And 
declared he lost Money by it. He gave 24,0001. for that 
Diamond, and considering he was Governor of Fort St. George 
for ten years, he might have made more money by trading 
with that Sum, than he did by the Diamond. 1 mention this 
Passage because I was on the spot and thoroughly acquainted 
with the Transaction in India, and’ am able to refute the 
scandalous Stories, that have been raised of the Means whereby 
the Governor acquired this Jewel. It lay some months at Fort 
St. George, in the hands of the Merchant’s Agent that sold it, 
in order to find a Chapman for it, and Governor Pitt was the 
best Bidder; no Manner of Compulsion was used to obtain it.”’ 
ome obscure passages in this quotation are, happily, 
cleared up by Captain Alex. Hamilton, who traded in the East 
Indies between the years 1688 and 1728. The extract which we 
are going to quote had escaped Colonel H. Yule. It is of con- 
siderable importance as bearing out Salmon’s contention that 
the stone came from Golkonda. 
‘*The Diamond Mines, being but a Week’s Journey from 
Fort St. George, make them pretty plentiful there, but fe 
great Stones are now brought to Market there, since that great 
Diamond which Governor Pitt sent to England. h 
purchased it, Mr. Glover, by whose Means it was brought to 
the Governor, could give the best Account, for he declared to 
me that he lost 3,000 Pagodas by introducing the Seller to 
Mr. Pitt, having left so much Money in Arcat as security, that 
if the Stone was not fairly bought at Fort St. George, the 
Owner should have free Liberty to carry it where he pleased for 
a Market ; but neither the Owner nor Mr. Glover were pleased 
with the Governor’s Transactions in that Affair. Some Customs 
and Laws at the Mines are: when a Person goes thither on that 
Affair he chooses a Piece of Ground, and acquaints one of the 
King’s Officers, who stay there for that Service, that he wants 
80 many covets of Ground to dig in; but whether they agree for 
so much, or if the Price be certain, I know not. However, when 
the Money is paid, the Space of Ground is enclosed, and some 
Sentinels placed round it. The King challenges all Stones that 
are found above a certain Weight—I think it is about 60 Grains; 
and if any Stones be carried clandestinely away above the 
stipulated Weight, the Person guilty of the Theft is punished 
with Death. Some are fortunate, and get Estates by digging 
while others lose both their Money and Labour.’’! 
| New Account of the East Indies, Vol. I, Ch. XXIX, pp. 369-70. 
