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48 YOUTHFUL DIAMOND MERCHANTS book π
band,
his turban, or his shirt, and departs, so that one never sees the same
stones again, or at least they are mixed with others, when the miner
returns with another parcel. When the transaction is concluded the
puchaser gives an order for payment on the Shroff or person who issues
and receives bills of exchange. If you have agreed to pay in three or
four days, and delay longer, you have to pay interest at the rate of 1
1/2 per cent, per month. Most frequently, when the merchant is known to
be solvent, a bill of exchange on Agra, Golkonda, or Bïjâpur is
preferred, but more especially one upon Surat, where, as it is the most
famous port in India, the dealers' desire to purchase the commodities
which come in vessels from foreign countries, and are suitable for
their wants.
It
is very pleasant to see the young children of these merchants and of
other people of the country, from the age of ten years up to the age of
fifteen or sixteen, assemble every morning under a tree which is in the
town square. Each has his diamond weights in a little bag suspended on
one side, and on the other a purse attached to his waistband, which
contains as much as 500 or 600 gold pagodas. They seat themselves there
awaiting the arrival of anyone who wishes to sell diamonds, either
brought from this or from some other mine. When anyone brings a stone
he places it in the hands of the eldest of the children, who is, so to
speak, the chief of the band ; he looks at it and passes it on to him
who sits next. Thus it goes from hand to hand till it returns to the
first one without anyone saying a word.
He
then asks the price of the specimen, wishing to purchase, if possible ;
and if by chance he buys at too high a price he is responsible. In the
evening these children count up what they have purchased, and after
examining the stones separate them according to their water, weight,
and cleanness. Next they price each as they expect to dispose of them
to strangers ,and by this they see how far the value exceeds the cost
of purchase. They then carry them to the great merchants who always
have a number of parcels to match, and all the profit is divided among
the children, save only that their chief receives a quarter per cent,
more than the
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