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242
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[SEPTEMBER, 1884.
UERTOMANNUS.-In the year 1503, Lewes Next follow a group of authors, the accounts Uertomannus, who is described as a Roman of whose travels are to be found in Baptista gentleman, travelled in Western and Southern Ramusio's above-mentioned work. The first India. The account of his travels contains of them is Andrea Corsali, Fiorentino, whose some interesting particulars bearing on our letter, addressed to Signor Guliano de Medici, present subject. Of Cambaia he says (p. 381): Duca di Fiorenza, is dated Cochin, 6th January, "In this region is also a mountaine where the 1515; it contains only a few unimportant facts onyx stone, commonly called corneola, is founde, bearing upon this subject. and not far from thence also another mountaine Another of these authors is Ludovico Barwhere the calcedony and diamant are founde." thema, whose information is almost identical If by diamant the diamond is meant in this with that already quoted from Lewes Vertopassage, the fact is noteworthy, as the Ponassa mannus. The precise date of Barthema's of Ptolemy is probably identical with the work I have been unable to ascertain. modern Punasa in this region. At the same time From the book of Odarodo Barbosa, which a doubt must be expressed as to true diamonds refers apparently to a period about the year having been ever found there. Further on our 1519, and to & voyage to India made by way author says, (p. 383) :." Sixe miles from the of the Cape of Good Hope, we learn that at city of Decan (? Bisnagar) is a mountaine Bisnagar, i.e. Vijayanagar, jewels brought where diamonds are digged. It is compassed from Pegu and Ceylon were on sale in great with a wall and kept with a garrison."
abundance, as also were diamonds from NarUertomannus mentions that two European singa. This author gives also a full account of dealers in precious stones named respectively the values, &c., of a number of precious stones, John Maria and Peter Antonie, resided at namely, rubies, spinel, diamond, sapphire, toCalicut with the king's license. They had paz, turquoise, hyacinth, and emerald, and acquired a fair diamond of 32 carats, worth mentions the localities where they were obtain35,000 crowns, a pearl of 24 carats, and 2,000 ed, but these details are too voluminous for rubies, some of 1 carat, and some of 1} carat. reproduction here. On their attempting to depart secretly with GARCIAS AB HORTO.-Our next authority is their treasures to Cannanore, they were mur. Garcias ab Horto, a physician resident at dered by order of the king.
Goa, who, in 1565, produced a work in PortuUnder the beading, “Of the Diamondes of guese, containing a considerable amount of the Old Myne," our author says (p. 424) :- interesting and much of it, though not all “These diamondes are found in the first India obviously accurate information on our present in a kingdom of the Morres, named Decan, subject. He tells us that there are two or from whence they are brought to other re- three localities near Bisnagar (Vijayanagar) gions. There are also found other diamonds where diamonds were obtained, the industry which are not so good, but somewhat whyte, being & considerable source of revenge to the and are called diamondes of the new myne,
king, as all stones above 30 mangelis (-150 which is in the kingdom of Narsinga (Lower grs.) became his property. Another mine Krishna). They of the old mine are not pol- also in the Decan produced excellent dialyshed in India, but in other places. There monds. It was situated in the lands of & are made lykewise in India false diamondes of native prince, near the territory of Imadixa rubies, topazes, and white sapphires, which (i.e. of Ahmad Shah ?) This last was probaappear to be fine, and are also found in the bly identical with the mine at Wairagarh, in island of Zeilan (Ceylon). These stones differ the Central Provinces. in none other save that they have lost their Garcias treats with scorn the old fable of the natural colour.” In another place he gives in- valley inhabited by serpents, and moreover formation as to the local prices of other precious points out that a Jesuit father, François de stones, as rubies, spinel, sapphires, topaz, &c.
Tamara, who had repeated it, was therefore
60 The History of Travel, &o., done into English from the original Latin. By R. Eden and R. Willes. Lond.:
De Arom. et Simp. Historia, a Latin version by Clusius of Antwerp, 1567.
1577.
