172 THE GREAT DIAMONDS OF THE WORLD.
of
the whole matter, and so be enabled thereby to put to silence and
confound those and all other villains, in their base attempts against
either.
"
About two or three years after my arrival at Madras, which was in July,
1698, I heard there were large diamonds in the country to be sold,
which I encouraged to be brought down, promising to be their chaperon,
if they would be reasonable therein, upon which Jamchund, one of the
most eminent diamond merchants in these parts, came down about
December, 1701, and brought with him a large rough stone, about 305
mangelins, and some small ones, which myself and others bought. But he,
asking a very extravagant price for the great one, I did not think of
meddling with it ; when he left it with me for some days, and then came
and took it away again, and did so several times, insisting upon not
less than 200,000 pagodas,* and as I best remember, I did not bid him
more than 30,000, and had little thoughts of buying it for that. I
considered there were many and great risks to be run, not only in
cutting it, but whether it would prove foul or clean, or the water
good. Besides, I thought it too great an amount to venture home in one
bottom, so that Jamchund resolved to return speedily to his own
country, so that, I best remember, it was in February following he came
again to me (with Vincaty Chittee, who was always with him when I
discoursed about it), and pressed me to know whether I resolved to buy
it,
