Book I. 



Travels in India. 



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

 fit down by him, he fent 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 Nahab had fhew'n us all, he ask'd us whether they would (ell 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 

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

 -efteem for any others. It feems, that when he firft undertook the Conqueft of 

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

 mond Mines in it. Whereupon he fertt 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 Nahab perceiving that they could find none but brown Stories, of a 

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

 and fo fenc all the people back to their Husbandry. 



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

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

 mised them ; threatning him,that if he did not difcharge it, they would leave him • 

 to which the Nahab promis'd to give them fatisfaftion the next day. 



The twelfth,the Canoneers not failing to give him another vifit,the Nahab 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, they fell a feafting 

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

 their Coin. 



The thirteenth, the Nahab 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 Gandi- 

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

 feveral Idols, fome of Gold, and others of Silver j among the reft there were 

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

 high. Thefe Idols were made ufe of among the reft. But when Maille alfo 

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

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

 try'd feveral ways, but it was impoffible for him to do it, whatever expence 

 the Nahab was at ; nay though the Nahab threaten'd to 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 j fo that he was fore'd to leave 

 the work unfinifh'd., and foon after left the Nahabs fervice, 



The fourteenth, we went to take our leaves of the Nahab 3 and to know 

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

 fhew'n him. But then he told us, he was bufie at prefent 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 3 

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

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

 foon acquitted. And let the controverfie be of what nature it will 3 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 Nahab was fitting according to the cuftom of the Country, bare-foot a 

 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 ^omtimes 

 from between hisToes/omtimes from between hisFingers,and order ci what anfwers 

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

 them to read them,and then took the Letters and feal'd them himfelfj giving fome 

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

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

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



* O 2, every 



