Travels in India (Tavernier) 87.2.4

87.2.4

He is a Muhammadan, who having embraced me, assured me I was welcome—not doubting that I had brought gold with me (for at all the mines of Gol- CONDA and Bijapur they speak but of new pagodas, which are golden coins), and that I had only to place it in my lodging, where it would be safe, and he would be responsible for all I had. Besides the servants whom I brought with me he allotted me four others, and commanded them to keep a watch on my gold by day and night, and to obey all my orders. Shortly after I had left him he sent to recall me, and on my return : “ I sent to seek you,” he said, “ in order to assure you again that you have nothing to fear — eat, drink, and sleep, and have a care for your health. I have forgotten to tell you to be careful not to defraud the King, to whom 2 per cent is due on all your purchases. Do not attempt,” he continued, “to do as some Muhammadans did who came to the mine, and combined with the merchants and some brokers to withhold the royalties of the King — saying that they had only purchased to the value of 10,000 pagodas, while they had invested more than 50,000.” I then commenced to purchase, and saw that there was a sufficiently large profit to be made, all being 20 per cent cheaper than at Golconda, in addition to which, one sometimes, by chance, met with large stones.