"Travels in India. 



Part II 



the maw of the Goat. It is fhap'd according to the form of the buds or tops of 

 the branches which the Goats eat : which is the reafon there are fb many fhapes 

 of Bezoar-Stones. The Natives, by feeling the belly of the Goat., know how 

 many Stones fhe has within, and fell the Goat according to the quantity. This 

 they will find out by Hiding their hands under their bellies, and then (baking both 

 fides of the paunch j for the Stones will fall into the middle, where they may 

 eafily count them all by their feeling. 



The rarity of Bezoar is in the bignefs ; though the fmall Bezoar has the fame 

 vertue as that which is larger. But there is more deceit in the large Bezoar ; for 

 the Natives have got a trick to add to the bignefs of the Stone, with a certain 

 Parte compos'd of Gum, and fomething elfe of the colour of Bezoar. And they 

 are fo cunning too, to fiiape it jult like natural Bezoar. The cheat is found out 

 two ways -, the firft is by weighing the Bezoar, and then fteeping it in warm wa- 

 ter ; if neither the water change colour, nor the Bezoar, lofe any thing of its 

 weight, the Stone is right. The other way is to thruft a red-hot Bodkin of Iron 

 into the Stone ; if the Bodkin enters, and caufes it to fry, there is a mixture. Be- 

 zoar is dearer according to the bignefs of the Stones, advancing in price like Dia- 

 monds. For if five or fix Bezoars weigh an ounce, an ounce will be worth fifteen 

 or eighteen Franks ; but if it be a Stone of one ounce, that very ounce is well 

 worth ioo Franks. I have fold one of four ounces and a half for 2000 Li- 

 vres. 



I have been very curious to inform my felf of all things that concern'd the 

 nature of Bezoar ; but could never learn in what part of the body of the Goat 

 it was to be found. One time among the reft, having oblig'd lèverai Native Mer- 

 chants by putting off for them a great quantity of Bezoar ; upon my requeft, 

 though it be death without mercy to tranlport any of thefe Goats out of the 

 Gountrey, they brought me fix Goats by ftealth to my lodging. When I ask'd 

 the price of them, I was furpriz'd, when they told me one was worth but three 

 Roupies ; that the two other were worth four Roupies ; and the three others 

 -four and three quarters a piece. I ask'd them why fame were more worth than 

 others j but I found afterwards that the firlt had but one Bezoar, that the relt 

 had two, or three, or four. The fix Goats had in all leventeen Bezoars in them, 

 and a half one, as big as the half of a Hazel-nut. The infide was like the foft 

 ordure of the Goat, the Bezoar lying among the dung, which is in the belly of 

 the Goat. Some averr'd that they grew right againft the liver, others right 

 againft the heart, but I could never find out the truth. 



As well in the Eaft, as Weft, there are a great quantity of Bezoars that breed 

 in the fame manner in Cows ; of which there have been fome that have weigh'd 

 feventeen or eighteen ounces ; For there was fuch a one that was giv'n to the Great 

 Duke of Tujedtfyi But thofe Bezoars are little efteem'd, fix grains of the other 

 Bezoar working more powerfully than thirty of this. 



As for the Bezoar which breeds in Apes, as fome believe, it is fo ftrong, that two 

 grains work as effectually as fix of Goat's-Bezoar : but it is very Icarce, as being 

 only found in thofe Apes that breed in the Ifland of Macajfar. This fort of Be- 

 zoar is round, whereas the other is of fcveral fafhions, as I faid before. As the 

 Apes Bezoar is ftronger, and fcarcer than the Goats., fo it is dearer, and more 

 fought after ; a piece as big as a nut, being fometimes worth a hunder'd Crowns. 

 The Portugais make great account of this Bezoar, ftanding always upon their 

 guard for fear of being poifon'd. 



There is another Stone in great efteem, that is call'd the Porcupine's-Stone, 

 which that creature is faid to carry in its head, and is more precious than Bezoar 

 againft poifon. If it be fteep'd in water a quarter of an hour, the water becomes 

 fo bitter, that nothing can be more bitter. There is alfo a Stone fometimes found 

 in the belly of that creature of the fame nature ; and as good as that which comes 

 from the head ; neverthelefs with this difference, that being fteep'd in water, it 

 lofes nothing of its weight nor bulk, as the other does. I have bought in my 

 time three of thofe Stones. One of them coft me y 00 Crowns, and I exchang'd 

 it to advantage. I paid four-hunder'd Crowns for the other, which I keep : the 

 other was fold me for 200 Crowns, which I prefented to a friend, 



There 



