Book II Travels lu -India. 



At the two Mines about Raolconda in the Kingdom of Fifapour, the . payments 

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

 pendent from the Great Mogul. The new Pagod is not always at the fame value - 

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

 times lels ; being advanc'd and brought down according to the courfe of Trade 

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



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

 they make their payments, in neAV Pagods, which are equal in value to the King of 

 Vifapour's. But fometimes you are fore'd to give four in the hunder'd more, by 

 reafon 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 priviledgM by the King to coin them in their Forts : And thofe 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 prepoffefs'd that the Miners are a rude and favage fort of 

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

 mafters keep correfpondence 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. Thole old Pagods are worth four 

 Roupies and a half, 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 Ba»kers, to ob- 

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

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

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

 others wanting weight % fo that if one of thefe Bankers were not prefènt at the 

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

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

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

 ney in the prefencc 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, 

 and feals it with his Seal ; and when the Merchant pays for his Diamonds, he 

 brings the Seller to the Banker, who finding his bag entire, affures the party that 

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



As for the Roupies, they take indifferently, as well the Great Mogul's as the 

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

 by Articles, with the Great Mogul's ftamp. 



Tis an idle thing to believe that vulgar error, that it is enough to carry Spices, 

 Tobacco, Looking-glafTes, and fuch trifles to truck for Diamonds at the Indian- 

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

 beft fort too. 



As for the roads to the Mines, fome fabulous modern relations have render'd 

 them very dangerous, and filPd them full of Lions, Tigers, and cruel People $ but 

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

 loving and courteous. 



From Golconda to Raolconda, which is the principal Mine, the road is as follows ; 

 the road being meafur'd by Gos, which is four French-leagues, 



From Golconda to Canafour, one Gos. 



From Canapour to Farquel, two Gos and a half. ! 



From Parquel to Cakenol, one Gos. , 



From Cakpnol to Canol-Candanor, three Gos. 



From Canol-Candanor to Setapour, one Gos, 



From Setapour to the River, two Gos. > - 



That River is the bound between the Kingdoms of Golconda and fifapQuri 



From the River to Alpom, three quartets of a Gos. 



Erom \4lpour to Canal, three quarters of a Gos. 



From Canal to Raolconda, two Gos and a half. 

 Thus ftomGolconda to the Mine,they reckon it feventeen Gos,or 6%Frmk~LttgUt$l 



From Golconda to the Mine of Coulow or Gani 3 is reckoned thirteen Gos and 

 tftree quarters, or ff F rencb-kzgues, a, ■ :> 



