Travels in India (Tavernier) 103.2

103.2

No. 2 represents a large stone believed to be a ruby, and sold as such to Zafar Khan, the Great Mogul’s uncle, who bought it for the sum of 95,000 rupees, which amount to 1,425,000 livres. He presented it to the Great Mogul, with many other precious things, on the King’s festival, that is to say, the day whereon he is weighed, as I have elsewhere said. This stone having been priced at a little less than it cost, there happened to be present at that time an old Indian who had previously been chief jeweller to the King, but had been dismissed from his charge through jealousy. Having taken this stone in his hands, he maintained that it was not a balass ruby, that Zafar Khan had been cheated, and that the stone was not worth more than 500 rupees. The King having been informed of the discussion, summoned the old Indian, with all the other jewellers, who maintained on their side that the stone was a balass ruby. As in the whole Empire of the Great Mogul there was no one more proficient in the knowledge of stones than Shah Jahan, who was kept as a prisoner at Agra by Aurangzeb, his son, the latter sent the stone to the King, his father, asking for his opinion. After full consideration he confirmed the verdict of the old jeweller, and said that it was not a balass ruby, and that its value did not exceed 500 rupees. The stone having been returned to Aurangzeb, he compelled the merchant who had sold it to take it back and return the money he had received.