Account of the Turquoises, and of Their Prices in Malabar

The true turquoises are found in Niexer and Quirimane, country of Sheikh Ismail, in mines and dry ground, and they are found upon black stones, and the Moors detach them there in small pieces, and bring them thence to Ormuz, whence they are sent out to many countries by sea. The Indians call them peyrosa. It is a soft stone and of little weight, and not very cold; and in order to know that it is good and true, by day it will seem to you of a blue colour, and at night by candle light it turns green; and those which are not so perfect, do not change from one appearance. If this stone is pure and of a fine colour, underneath at its base it will have brown stone upon which it grew, and if any little vein or point were to come out above the black stone itself, then it is known as very genuine indeed, and of greater value, because it is a sign of being a true turquoise, and for greater certainty putting upon it a little virgin lime, white and moistened like ointment, the lime will appear coloured. And when they have this perfection they are worth the following prices:—

If the turquoise is of the said perfection and weighs a carat, it will be worth in

the Malabar country xv fs. 15

One of two carats xl fs. 40

One of four carats xc fs. 90

One of six carats cl fs. 150

One of eight carats cc fs. 200

One of ten carats ccc fs. 300

One of twelve carats ccccl fs. 450

One of xiiij carats dl fs. 550

They take no account of the larger ones, from their being light pieces of much bulk. The Moors and Guzuratys wear the large ones.