EFORE
the cleavage this stone, which Tavernier procured in the Kollur mine,
weighed 104 carats. Although of fine water, it seemed to be so foul in
the middle, that, being of large size and held at a high price, none of
the Banians (native traders) would venture to purchase it. At last a
Dutchman named Bazu was bold enough to do so, and having had it cleaved
there was found in the interior as much as eight carats weight of
impurities, which had the appearance of decayed vegetable matter.* The
smaller portion remained pure with the exception of a few almost
imperceptible blemishes. But as to the other portion, the flaws passed
right through it, and it had to be divided into seven or eight pieces.
Bazu ran a great risk in having this stone cleaved. The operation might
have broken it into a hundred pieces. Even as it was he made a bad
bargain, which shows plainly enough that " where the Banians refuse to
bite, there is not much hope for the Franks."
