to
justify its republication in its original quaint form. But it has in
connexion with Tavernier a special interest, because from the glimpse
of the contents of the book which it affords, we can see that Chapuzeau
(or rather Chappuzeau), by whatever means he acquired them, was in
possession of many of the facts recorded in Tavernier's Travels at least ten years before the Travels were
published, and while Tavernier was absent on his last journey. None of
the biographies of Chappuzeau mention this work ; and although I have
not failed to make inquires I have been unable as yet to find any
explanation of the mystery.
In Emanuel's bibliography of works on precious stones,1 the book is mentioned with its full title, and the place and date of publication are given as Geneva 1665.
An Account
Of a small Book in French, entituled
HISTOIRE DES JOYAUX
ET
Des Principales Richesses de l'Orient et de l'Occident, par le Sr. Chapuzeau.
This History treats of Diamonds, Rubies, Emeralds, Pearls, Coral, Bezoar, Yellow Amber, Ambergris, Indigo, &c. Of Diamonds, the Author shews :
I. The Places whence they are taken ; of which he finds but five in all the East-Indies, whereof two are Rivers, vid. Saccadan in Borneo and Nage in the Kingdom of Bengala ;2 at the bottom of both which, he saith, the
Diamonds are found among the sand, after the waters, that fall as great
Torrents from the Mountains, are run off ; and the three others are
Mines, in the Kingdoms of Decan, Cuncan, and Golconda. In this Relation he observes, that the Diamonds which are found at the bottom of those Rivers, have the best Water ; but those in Mines have often Flaws (which he imputes to the violent knockings of the Rock) and Blebs, ascribed to the condition of the Earth or Sand they are found in, vid. when
that is not pure, but fattish or black. He takes also notice, that
Diamonds are the heaviest of precious Stones, as Gold is of Mettals.
II. The Manner, how they are found and separated ; which is the same in substance with that described in Num. 18, p. 328.3
1 Diamonds and Precious Stones, second ed., London, 1867, p. 246. '
2 See ante, pp. 41 et seq. of vol. ii, and Appendix III, p. 356.
3 This ie a reference to another Review, on the Voyage de L' Evêque de Beryte, &c. ; it is in Phil. Trans., vol. i, pp. 327-8.
