Account of the Diamonds of the Old Mine

These diamonds are gathered in the first India in a kingdom of Moors called Decan, and they carry them thence to all parts. There are other diamonds which are not so good; some are white and are said to be of the new mine which is in the kingdom of Narsynga; these are worth less by a third in Calicut and the country of Malabar, than those of the old mine; and they are worked in the kingdom of Narsynga itself. And those of the old mine are not worked in India. They likewise make false diamonds in India with white rubies, topazes and sapphires, which look like fine gems and these are found in Ceylon, and they only differ from diamonds in the colour which they have by nature. And some of these stones are found half of which have the colour of the ruby and the other of the colour of the sapphire, and others of the colour of the topaze, and some of them have got all these colours mixed. They bore these stones with two or three very fine threads through them, and they remain as cats' eyes. And with the stones which turn out white they make a great quantity of small diamonds which cannot be distinguished from the other genuine ones, except by the touch and by those who have much acquaintance with them.

Eight fine diamonds which weigh a manjar are worth xxv or xxx fs. 30

Six weighing one manjar xl fs. 40

Four weighing one manjar lx fs. 60

Two weighing one manjar lxxx fs. 80

One weighing one manjar c fs. 100

One weighing a manjar and a quarter clxv fs. 165

One of one and a half clxxx fs. 180

One of one and three quarters ccxx fs. 220

One of one and three quarters and a half cclx fs. 260

One of two manjars cccxx fs. 320

One of two and a quarter ccclx fs. 360

One of two and a half ccclxxx fs. 380

One of two and three quarters if in full perfection ccccxx fs. 420

One of this said perfection of three manjars ccccl fs. 450

One of three manjars and a half cccclxxx fs. 480

One of four manjars dl fs. 550

One of five manjars dccl fs. 750

One of six manjars dcccc fs. 900

One of seven manjars IUCC fs. 1,200

One of eight manjars IUCCCC fs. 1,400

These go on increasing in price in proportion, and each manjar weighs two taras and two-thirds, and two taras make a carat even weight, and four taras weigh a fanam.