Travels in India (Tavernier) 96.3

96.3

The dealers are so particular about their profit in trade that they will not show you a parcel of rubies, although they may be fine, unless you promise beforehand that In case you do not buy you will make them a small present — as a turban or a waistband ; and when one acts somewhat liberally to them they show all their stock, and one can then transact some business with them. The other place in the East whence rubies and other coloured stones are obtained is a river in the island of Ceylon. It comes from high mountains which are in the middle of the island, and as the rains greatly increase its size — three or four months after they have fallen, and when the water is lowered, the poor people go to search amongst the sand, where they find rubies, sapphires, and topazes. The stones from this river are generally more beautiful and cleaner than those of Pegu. I forgot to remark that in the mountains which run from Pegu towards the Kingdom of Camboya some rubies are found in certain places, but more balass rubies than others, many spinelles, sapphires, and topazes. There are gold mines in these mountains, and rhubarb also comes from these places, which is highly esteemed, because it does not spoil so quickly as that which grows in other parts of Asia.