Account of the Balasses, Where They Grow and What They Are Worth in Calicut

These balasses are of the class of rubies but not so strong as them, their colour is rosy and some are almost white, they are found in Balaxayo which is a kingdom of the mainland near Peygu and Bengal. The Moors bring them out of that country to all parts; that is to say, the good and picked ones, cut or uncut, they clean and work them in Calicut, and they are sold for the prices of spinel rubies. Those which are not good, and are bored, are bought by the Moors of Mekkah and Aden for the whole of Arabia, where they are accustomed to take them.