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SEPTEMBER, 1884.] EARLY NOTICES OF METALS AND GEMS IN INDIA.
not worthy of credence, when he stated that diamonds were to be found in Brazil. The statement is of importance when it is remembered that the first diamond mines in Brazil were not opened up till 1728, or more than 160 years later. It may be added that the version of the fable just alluded to is that one where the serpents guard the jewels, and while they are engaged eating the meat thrown to them, the diamond-seekers are enabled to pick up the stones. Garcias speaks of several large diamonds which were known to exist in his time; two weighed 140 and 120 mangelis respectively (e. 700 and 600 grs.) Far exceeding these in size was one which he had heard of from a native who had seen it; it was said to be equal in size to a fowl's egg; it weighed 250 mangelis, or 1,250 grs. This was, according to Tavernier, who wrote a century later, the . form of the Great Moghul diamond when originally found. So that it seems quite possible that this casual notice by Garcias is the earliest mention of that famous stone.
Even in the time of Garcias it would seem that the tailings from earlier washings were sometimes rewashed with good results. He states that Lispor, in the Decan, was a principal mart for the sale. (Can this have been Vizapur or Bijapur ?).
The geographical limits of Balaghât-a name used not only by Garcias, but also by some other writers-it would, probably, be impossible to closely define now. The name is still conserved as that of a particular district, but in early times it seems to have been applied to all the region in Southern India above the Ghâts, which was sometimes also called the Carnata, a name now, however, restricted to a district below the Ghâts.
With reference to other precious stones, Garcias states that a false smaragdas (emerald) was made of glass in Balaghat and Bisnagar. He distinguishes four varieties of ruby, as the true, carbuncle, balas, and spinel. Of sapphires he says two kinds were found in Calicut, Cannanore, and several places in Bisnagar. We have no knowledge of true sapphires ever having been obtained in these districts. Both hyacinth and garnet were found in Calicut and Cannanore, the latter
es A translation of the account of his travels is given in Hakluyt's Voyages, vol. II, 1599, p. 213.
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being distributed throughout the whole of Cambay and Balaghat. Beryl was found in Cambay, Martaban, and Pegu, also in Ceylon; glasses and vases were made from it.
Garcias states that the Murrhine cup was made of jasper; more correctly, perhaps, it was made of carnelian, as suggested on a previous page.
CESAR FREDERICK.-About the year 1567, a traveller named Cæsar Frederick" visited Western and Southern India. In a translation from his original account we find the following passage:"The rubies, saphyres, and the spinels be gotten in the kingdom of Pegu. The diamants come from divers places, and I know but three sorts of them. That sort of diamants that is called chiappe cometh from Bezeneger. Those that be naturally pointed come from the land of Delly and Iawa (by which we must understand Borneo), but the diamants of lawa are more waightie than the other. I could never understand from whence they that are called balassi come." The signification of chiappe is uncertain. The naturally-pointed stones probably come from Chutia Nagpur, or Kokrah, as it was then called, since Tavernier describes the stones from that region as being of this character, and it is believed that they were taken to Dehli. The term "balas" was applied to the spinel rubies from Badakshân. Possibly, it may have been used for those diamonds which had a roseate tinge.
On another page Frederick says:-" Also, five days' journey from Bezeneger, is the place where they get diamants. I was not there, but it was told me that it is a great place, compassed with a wall, and that they sell the earth within the wall for so much a squadron, and the limits are set how deepe or how low they shall digge. Those diamants that are of a certain size, and bigger then that size, are all kept for the king. It is many years agone since they got any there, for the troubles that have been in that kingdom."
FITCH AND NEWBERRY.-The famous traveller, Ralph Fitch, and his companion, Newberry, have left on record an account of their journeys in India, which refers to the years about 1583. In reference to precious stones, the
63 Hakluyt's English Voyages, vol. II, 1599, p. 253.
