Book I. Travels in India. 59 



The tenth day he fent for us in the morning, and after he had caus'd us to 

 fit down by him, he lent for five fmall Bags full of Diamonds, every Bag con- 

 taining a good handful. They were loofe Stones, of a very black Water, and 

 very fmall ; none of them exceeding a Carat, or a Carat and a half } but other- 

 wife very clean. There were fome few that might weigh two Carats. After 

 the N.ih.tb had fhew'n us all, he ask'd us whether they would fell in our Coun- 

 try. We made anfwer, that they might have been for fale in our Country, 

 provided they had not been of a black Water ; for that in Europe we never. 

 elteem'd any Diamonds, but fuch as were clean and white, having but a fmall 

 eileeni for any others. It feems, that when he firft undertook the Conquejf of 

 this Kingdom for the King of .Golconda, they inform'd him that there were Dia- 

 mond Mines in it. Whereupon he fent twelve thoufand men to dig there ; who 

 in a whole years time could find no more than thofe five fmall Bags full. Where- 

 upon, the Nabab perceiving that they could find none but brown Stones, of a 

 Water enclining much more to black than white, thought it but lofs of time, 

 and lb lent all the people back to their Husbandry. 



The eleventh, the French Canoneers came all to the JVababs Tent, com- 

 plaining that he had not paid them the four months pay which he had pro- 

 mis'd them j threatning hira,that if he did not difcharge it, they would leave him i 

 to which the Nabab promis'd to give them fatisfacTion the next day. 



The twelfth,the Canoneers not failing to give him another vifit,the Nabab paid 

 them three months, and promis'd to pay them the fourth before the month 

 were out ; but fo foon as they had receiv'd their Money, tney fell a feafting 

 one another, fo that the Dancing Wenches carried away the greateft part of 

 their Coin. 



The thirteenth, the Nabab went to fee the Guns which Maille had under- 

 taken to caft. For which purpofe he had fent for Brafs from all parts, and 

 got together a great number of Idols which the Soldiers had pillag'd out of 

 the Pagods as they march'd along. Now you muft know, that in Candi- 

 cot there was one Pagod, fakl to be the faireft in all India, wherein there were 

 feveral Idols, fome of Gold, and others of Silver ; among the reit there were 

 fix of Brafs, three fitting upon their Heels, and three upon their Feet, ten foot 

 high. Theie Idols were made ufe of among the reft. But when Ala'dle alfb 

 had provided all things ready, he could not make thofe fix Idols run, that were 

 taken out of the great Pagod of Gandicot, "though he melted all the reft. He 

 try'd feveral ways, but it was impolTible for him to dc it, whatever expence 

 the Nabab was at ■, nay though the Nabab threaten'd t* hang the Priefts for 

 having inchanted thofe Idols. And thus Maille could never make any more than 

 only one fingle piece, and that fplit upon trial ; fo that he was fore'd to leave 

 the work unfininYd, and foon after left the Nabab s fervice. 



The fourteenth, we went to take our leaves of the Nubab, and to know 

 what he had further to fay to us, concerning the Commodities we had then - ■ 

 ihew'n him. But then he told us, he was bufie at prcient about the examina- 

 tion of certain Offenders which were brought before him. For it is the cuftom 

 of that Country, never to put a man in Prifon ; but as foon as the Offender is taken, 

 he is examin'd, and fentence is pronoune'd upon him, according to his crime, 

 which is immediately executed -, or if the party taken, be found innocent, he is as 

 Toon acquitted. And let 'the controverfie be of what nature it will, it is pre* 

 fently decided. 



The fifteenth in the morning, we went to wait upon him again, and were im- 

 mediately admitted into his Tent, where he fate with his two Secretaries by 

 him. The Nabab was fitting according to the cuftom of the Country* bare- foot, 

 like one of our Taylors, with a great number of Papers fticking between his Toes, 

 and others between the Fingers of his left hand, which Papers he drew fomtjmes 

 from between hisToes,fbmtimes from between hisFingers,and order'd what aniwers 

 Ihould be given toevery one. After his Secretaries had wrote the anfwers,he caus'd 

 them to read them,and then took the Letters and feaPd them himfelf ; giving fome 

 to Foot Meifengcrs, others to Horfemen. For you muft know, that all thofe Let- 

 ters which are lent by Foot-Pofts all over India, go with more fpeed than 

 thofe which are carried by Horfemen. The reafon is, becaufc at the end of 



* O 2 every 



