Travels in India (Tavernier) 96.1

96.1

There are only two places in the East where coloured stones are obtained, namely in the Kingdom of Pegu and in the island of Ceylon. The first is a mountain twelve days or thereabouts from Siren in a north-east direction, and it is called Capelan. It is the mine from whence is obtained the greatest quantity of rubies, spinelles or mothers of rubies, yellow topazes, blue and white sapphires, hyacinths, amethysts, and other stones of different colours. Among these hard stones others which are soft are found, and are called bacan in the language of the country. These are not considered to be valuable. Siren is the name of the city where the King of Pegu resides, and Ava is the port of the Kingdom. From Ava to Siren you ascend the river in large flat boats, and it is a voyage lasting about sixty days. You cannot travel by land on account of the forests, which abound with lions, tigers, and elephants. It is one of the poorest countries in the world; nothing comes from it but rubies, and even they are not so abundant as is generally believed, seeing that the value does not amount to 100,000 écus per annum.