Book II. Travels in India. 139 



CHAP, XIIL 



J Continuation of the Authors Travels to the 'Diamond Mines. 



I 



come to the third Mine, which is the moil ancient of all, in the Kingdom 

 of Bengala. You may give it the name of Soumelpour, which is the name of 

 the Town next to the place where the Diamonds are found 5 or rather Goue/, 

 which is the name of the River in the Sand whereof they feek for the Stones. 

 The Territories through which this River runs, belong to a Raja, who was 

 anciently tributary to the Great Mogul, but revolted in the time of the Wars 

 between Sha-jehan and Gehan-gmr his Father. So foon as Sha-jeban came to 

 the Empire, he fent to demand his Tribute of this Raja, as well for the time 

 pair, as to come ; who finding that his Revenues were not fufficient to pay him, 

 quitted his Country, and retir'd into the Mountains with his Subjects. Upon 

 his refufal, Sha-jehan believing he would ftand it out, fent a great Army againft 

 him, perfwading himfelf that he mould find great ftore of Diamonds in his 

 Country. But he found neither Diamonds, nor People, nor Victuals, the Raja, 

 having burnt all the Corn which his Subjects could not carry away ; fo that 

 the greateft part of Sha-jehans Army perifh'd for hunger. At length the Raja 

 return'd into his Country, upon condition to pay the Mogul (dme flight 

 Tribute, 



The Way from Agra to this Mine, 



From Agra to Halabas y coftes 130 



From Halabas to Banarous, coftes 33 



From Banarous to S afar on, coftes 4 



From Agra to Safer on you travel Eaftwardj but from Safer on to the Mine 

 you muft wind to the South, coming firft to a great Town, coftes 21 



This Town belongs to the Raja L have fpoke of. From thence you' go to 

 aForrrels call'd Rodas, coftes 4 



This is one of the itrongeft places in all Afa y feared upon a Mountain, for- 

 tifi'd with fix Baftions, and twenty-feven pieces of Cannon, with three Moats 

 full of Water, wherein there are good Fifh. There is but one way to come 

 to the top of the Mountain, where there is a Plain half a League in compafs, 

 wherein tliey fbw Corn and Rice. There is above twenty Springs that water 

 that Plain 5 but all the reft of that Mountain from top to bottom is nothing 

 but a fteep Precipice cover'd with over-grown Woods. The Raja's formerly 

 us'd to live in this Fort with a Garrifon of feven or eight hundred men. But 

 the Great Mogul has it now ; having taken that Fort by the policy of the fa- 

 mous Mirgimola, which all the Kings of India could never take before. The 

 Raja left three Sons, who betray'd one another ; the eldeft was poifon'd, the 

 fecond went and ferv'd the Great Mogul, who gave him the command of four 

 thoufand Horfe } the third poifeifes his Fathers Territories, paying the Mogul 

 a fmall Tribute. 

 From the Fortrefs of Rodas to Soumelpour, coftes 30 



Soumehour is a great Town, the Houfes whereof are built of Earth, and co- 

 ver'd only with Branches of Coco-trees. All thefe thirty Leagues you travel 

 through Woods, which is a very dangerous paifage, as being very much pefter'd 

 with Robbers. The Raja lives half a League from the Town, in Tents, fee upon 

 a fair riling ground, at the foot whereof runs the Gouel, defending from the 

 Southern Mountains, and falling into Ganges. 



In this River they find the Diamonds. For after the great Rains are over, 

 which is ufually in December, they ftay all January till the River be clear 5 by, 

 reafon that by that time in fome places it is not above two foot deep, and 

 in feveral places the Sand lies above the water. About the end of January; 

 or the beginning of February, there flock together out of the great Town,; 



* T z aii<* 



