[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Les six voyages de Jean-Baptiste Tavernier](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier) › [Travels in India (Ball)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball) › 103 # Travels in India (Tavernier) 103 Travels in India (Ball) 103 - **Language:** English ### [103.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.103.1) Figures of twenty Diamonds which the Author sold to the King on his return from his last Voyage to India. The figures before the Reader show the weight, the extent, and thickness of each Stone. These are the figures of the most beautiful rubies in the world, and of the topaz of the Great Mogul, in the order in which they are arranged here by numbers. No. 1. Figure of a ruby which belongs to the King of Persia. It is of the thickness and shape of an egg, is bored through and of very high colour, beautiful and clean, with the exception of a small flaw at the side. The custodians are unwilling to say what it cost, as is also the case with the pearl belonging to the same King, which is represented further on ; they are likewise unwilling that any one should know what either of them weighs. Those who keep the registers of the King of Persia’s jewels merely say that this ruby has been in the possession of the King for many years. ### [103.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.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. ### [103.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.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. ### [103.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.103.4) No. 7. These grand monarchs of Asia are not the only ones in the world who are in possession of beautiful stones. I have not seen as large rubies in any of the thrones of the Great Mogul as are those represented in the plate Nos. 7, 8, and 9, which belong to our great King, the most powerful and magnificent, in all respects, among the Monarchs of the earth! Here again are figures of the largest pearls of which we have knowledge, in the order of their numbers. No. 1 is the figure of a pearl which the King of Persia bought in the year 1633 from an Arab who had just received it from the fisheries at El Katif. It cost him 32,000 tomans, or 1,400,000 livres of our money, at the rate of 46 livres and 6 deniers per toman. It is the largest and most perfect pearl ever discovered, and it has not the least defect. No. 2 is the figure of the largest pearl which I saw at the Court of the Great Mogul. It is suspended from the neck of a peacock made of precious stones, and rests on the breast, and this peacock surmounts the throne. No. 3 is the figure of a pearl which I sold, on my last journey, to Shaista Khan, uncle of the Great Mogul and Governor of Bengal. It weighs 55 carats, but the water is somewhat dead ; it is the largest pearl which has ever been taken from Europe to Asia. ### [103.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.103.5) No. 4 is the figure of a large pearl perfect both as regards its water and its form which is like that of an olive. It is in the middle of a chain of emeralds and rubies that the Great Mogul sometimes wears round his neck, and it hangs down to his waist. No. 5. As a round pearl of perfect form, this is the largest I know of, and it belongs to the Great Mogul. Its equal has never been found, for which reason the Great Mogul has not worn it, but has left it with other jewels which are unmounted. For if a match for it had been found, the pair might have been used as ear pendants, and each of the two pearls would have been placed between two rubies or two emeralds, in conformity with the custom of the country, there being no one, whether small or great, who, in proportion to his means, does not carry in each ear a pearl set between two coloured stones. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.103](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.103) · Pramāṇa