Travels in India (Tavernier) 87.2.2

87.2.2

If you have agreed to pay in three or four days, and delay longer, you have to pay interest at the rate of per cent per month. Most frequently, when the merchant is known to be solvent, a bill of exchange on Agra, Golconda, or Bijapur is preferred, but more especially one upon Surat, where, as it is the most famous port in India, the dealers desire to purchase the commodities which come in vessels from foreign countries, and which are suitable for their wants. It is very pleasant to see the young children of these merchants and of other people of the country, from the age of ten years up to the age of fifteen or sixteen, assemble every morning under a large tree which is in the square of the town. Each has his diamond weights in a little bag suspended on one side, and on the other a purse attached to his waistband, which contains as much as 500 or 600 gold pagodas. They seat themselves there awaiting the arrival of any one who wishes to sell diamonds, either of the place itself or of some other mine. When any one brings a stone he places it in the hands of the eldest of these children, who is, so to speak, the chief of the band ; he looks at it and places it in the hand of him who sits next. Thus it goes from hand to hand till it returns to the first one without any one saying a word.