20 



Travels in India. 



Part II 



when any great Lord dies, the King is Heir to all his Eftate ; his Wife haying no 

 more than his Jewels, 



But to return to our Roupies of Gold ; you muft take notice, that they are 

 riot fo currant among the Merchants. For in regard one of them is not worth 

 above fourteen Roupies, which make one and twenty Livres of our Money, at 

 thirty Sous the Roupie, and that there are few of thefe Roupies of Gold to be 

 had, but in the Houfes of Great Men ; when it falls out that they make any pay- 

 ment, they will put them at a Roupie of Silver, or at leaft at a fourth part of a 

 Roupie more than it is worth, which will never turn to the Merchants profit. 

 Cha-Efi-Kan the King's Unckle, to whom I had fold a parcel of Goods at 96000 

 Roupies, when he came to pay me, ask'd me what Money I would be content to 

 take, whether Gold or Silver. Before I could return him an anfwer, he added, 

 that if I would leave it to him, I fhould take Gold Roupies : Nor did he give me 

 this advice, but becaufe he believ'd it would turn to his advantage: I told him 

 I would be rul'd by him ; thereupon he caus'd his Servants to tell me out fo ma- 

 ny Roupies in Gold, as made up the juft Sum which was due : But he would force 

 me to take the Roupie in Gold for fourteen Roupies and an half in Silver; though 

 among the Merchants they went but for fourteen. I was not ignorant of it ; but 

 I thought it beft to receive my Money according to the Prince's humour, in hopes 

 he might make me amends another time, either for the whole, or part of what 

 I might lofe. I let him alone two days, after which I went to him again, and told 

 him I had tried to put off his Roupies at the price I had received them ; 10 that 

 in the payment of 96000 Roupies, I had loft 3428 and one 16th. the Roupie of. 

 Gold which he forc'd me to take at fourteen Roupies and an half of Silver, being 

 worth but fourteen. Thereupon he fell into a paffion, and told me he would fee 

 as many Lames beftow'd upon the Changer, or Holland-Broker, whofe fault fo-' 

 ever it were ; that he would teach them to underftand Money 3 that they were 

 old Roupies, and were worth more by a fixteenth part of a Silver Roupie, than 

 the Roupies which were coin'd at that time. In regard I knew the humour of 

 the u4fiatic Princes, with whom there is no contefting, I let him fay what he 

 pleas'd } but when he came to himfelf, and began to put on a fmiling look, I de- 

 ïir'd him that he would be pleas'd to let me return the Summ which I had re- 

 ceived,the next day; or elfe that he would be pleas'd to pay me what was wanting, 

 and that I would take a Roupie at i4and one iéth. fince he affur'd me they were 

 worth fo much. The Prince for a while gave me a fcurvy look, not fo much as 

 fpeaking one word. At length he ask'd me, whether I had ft ill the Pearl, which 

 he had refus'd to buy. I told him I had, and immediately pull'd it out of my 

 Bofome, and gave it him. The Pearl was large, and of a. good water, but 111— 

 ftiap'd ; which was the reafon he refus'd it before. When I had given it to him, 

 well, faid he, let us talk no more of what is pair ; how much will you have, in a 

 word, for this Pearl ? I ask'd him feven thoufand Roupies, and indeed rather than 

 1 would havecarri'd it into France, I would have taken three. If I give thee, 

 laid he, feven thoufand Roupies for this Pearl, I mall make thee amends for the 

 lofs thou complain ft of in the firft bargain. Come to Morrow, and I will give 

 thee rive thoufand Roupies, and that's very fair : Thou fbalt have alfo a Calaat 

 and an Horfe. I made my obeyfance to him, and defir'd him to give me an Horfe 

 that mould be young, and fit for fervice, becaufe I had a great journey to take. 

 The next day he fent me a Robe, a Cloak, two Girdles, and a Cap 3 which is all 

 the Apparel that the Princes are wont to give to thofe to whom they intend any 

 Honour. The Cloak and Robe was of Satin purfled with Gold j the two Girdles 

 ftrip'd with Gold and Silver ; the Cap was of Calicut, dy'd into a Flame-colour, 

 with ftripes of Gold : The Horfe had no Saddle, but was covered with a green 

 Velvet foot-cloath, edg'd about with a fmall Silver-fringe. The Bridle was very 

 ftrait, with Silver-ftuds in fome places. I believe the Horfe had never been 

 back'd ; for fo foon as I brought him to the Holland-Houk, where I then lodg'd, 

 a young man got upon his back j but he was no fooner on, but the Horfe flung 

 and prane'd at that rate, that having kick'd down an Hutt that ftood in the Court, 

 he had like to have kill'd the Hollander. Finding that fuch a Refty-Horfe was 

 not for my turn, I fent him back to Cha-efl-Kan, and relating the Story to him, 

 Î told him I did not believe that he defir'd I mould return into my Countrey to 



