Book II. Travels in I n d i a. 141 



At the two Mines about Raolconda in the Kingdom of Vifapom, the payments 

 ape made in new Pagods, which the King coins in his own Name, as being inde- 

 nt -lent from the Great Mogul The new Pagod is not always at the lame value 5 

 for it is fometimes worth three Roupies and a half, fometimes more, and fome- 

 tiiivs left 3 being advane'd and brought down according to the courfe of Trade, 

 and the correspondence of the Bankers with the Princes and Governors. 



At the Mine of Colour or Gani, which belongs to the Kingdom of Golconda y 

 they make their payments in new Pagods, which are equal in value tothe King of 

 yifapoftf*. But fometimes you arcYorc'd to give four in the hunder'd more, by 

 rcafon they are better Gold, and befides, they will take no others at the Mine. 

 Thefe Pagods are coin'd by the Englijh and Hollanders, who, whether willingly or 

 by force^are priviledg'd by the King to coin them in their Forts : And thole of 

 the Hollanders coft one or two per cent, more than the Englijh, by reafon they are 

 better Gold, and for that the Miners choofe them before the other. But in re- 

 gard the Merchants are prepolleisM that the Miners are a rude and lavage fort of 

 people and that the ways are dangerous, they ftay at Golamda, where the Work- 

 mafters keep correspondence with them, and fend them their Jewels. There they 

 pay in old Pagods coin'd many ages ago by feveral Princes that Reign d in India 

 before the Mahometans got footing therein. Thofe old Pagods are worth four 

 Roupies and a halt, that is to fay, a Roupy more than the new : not that there is 

 any more Gold in them, or that they weigh any more. Only the Bankers, to ob- 

 lige the King not to bring down the price, pay him annually a very great Sum, by 

 reafon tl- y get very much by it. For the Merchants receive none of thofe Pa- 

 cods without a Changer to examin them, fome being all defae'd, others low-metal, 

 Sthers wanting weight : fo that if one of thefe Bankers were not prefent at the 

 receipt the Merchant would be a greater Jofer, fometimes one, fometimes five, 

 fometimes fix i'th hunder'd : for which they alfo pay them one quarter m the 

 hunder'd for their pains. When the Miners are paid, they alfo receive their Mo- 

 ney in the pretence of Bankers, who tells them which is good, and which 

 is bad- and has for that alfo one quarter i'th hunder'd. In the payment of 

 a thoufand or two-thoufand Pagods, the Banker, for his fee, puts them into a bag, 

 andfeals it with his Seal 5 and when the Merchant pays for his Diamonds, he 

 brines the Seller to the Banker, who finding his bag entire, allures the party that 

 all is right and good within ; and fo there is no more trouble. 



As for the Roupies, they take indifferently, as well the. Great Moguls as the 

 Kina of Golconda's : by reafon that thofe which that King coins, are to be coind, 

 bv Articles, with the Great Mogul's ftamp. 



y 'Tis an idle thine to believe that vulgar error, that it is enough to carry Spices, 

 TnWm Lookincr-glaffes, and fuch trifles to truck for Diamonds at the Indian- 

 Mines : For I < S3te ye, thefe people will not only have Gold, but Gold of the 



b ls°ibVt°lK : roads to the Mines, fome fabulous modern relations have render'd 

 them very dangerous, and fill'd them full of Lions, Tigers, and cruel People , but 

 I found them not only free from thofe wild creatures, but alfo the People very 



Iq K IZZZlUolconda, which is the principal Mine, the road is as follows : 

 the road being meafur'd by Gas, which is four FracA-leagues. 



From Gokonda to Canapour, one Gos. 



From Canapour to Parcel, two Gos and a halt. 



From Parquet to Cakenol, one Gos. 



From Cakfttol to Cawl-Candanor, three Gos. 



From Canol-Candanor to Snapour, one Gos. 



r rnm Sttapour to the River, two Gos. ■ —- 



ThTRiveTis the bound between the Kingdoms of Golmda afid Kfiponr. 



From the River to Alpour, three quarters of a Gos. 



From Alpour to Canal, three quarters of a Gos. 



three quarters, or j f Fre wA-leagues. Fr0HV 



