Travels in India (Tavernier) 103.3

103.3

Nos. 3 and 4 are figures of a ruby which belongs to the King of Bijapur. No. 4 shows the height of the stone above the ring, and No. 3 the circuit of the chaton. It weighs 14 mangelins, which equal of our carats, the mangelin at Bijapur being 5 grains. It is hollowed from beneath (i.e. cut en cabuchon), clean, and of the first quality. The King of Bijapur bought it in the year 1653 for the sum of 14,200 new pagodas, the pagoda being then worth 3 1/2 rupees, this, in our money, would be equal to 74,550 livres. Plate IV. RUBIES AND TOPAZ. No. 5 is the figure of a ruby which a Banian merchant showed me at Benares on the occasion of my last visit to India. It weighs 58 ratis, or 50 3/4 carats, and is of the second quality. Its form is of an almond cabuchon somewhat hollowed beneath, and bored near the point. I was willing to give 40,000 rupees for it, which make 60,000 livres, but the merchant to whom it belonged asked 55,000 rupees. I believe I could have got it for 50,000 rupees. No. 6 is the figure of the large topaz of the Great Mogul. I did not see him wear any other jewel during the time I remained at his Court on my last visit to India. This topaz weighs 181 1/2 ratis, or 157 3/4 carats. It was bought at Goa for the Great Mogul, for the sum of 181,000 rupees, or 271,500 livres of our money.