|
THE BANIAN.
Astute Dealers--"The Banian Removes his Turban"--Rapid Business.
This stone was bought from a Banian or Indian trader by Tavernier at the Raulconda mine, and sold by him to a Dutch captain on his return to Surat. He gives us an interesting account of the circumstances attending its purchase. "One day towards the evening a badly dressed Banian with only a girdle round his body, and a shabby kerchief on his head, came and politely accosted me, taking his seat by my side. In this country no attention is paid to dress, and many with nothing but a dirty cloth round their loins, occasionally contrive to hide away a good parcel of diamonds. . . . After some time, he asked me, through my interpreter, whether I wished to purchase a few rubies, and drew out about twenty ruby rings from his girdle. After examining them carefully I told him they were too small for my purpose. But remembering a commission I had received from a lady in Ispahan to procure her a ruby ring of about 100 crowns, I bought one of these for some 400 francs. I knew very well it was only worth 300, but I gladly risked the difference in the belief that he had not come merely to dispose of those rubies, and because I saw from his manner that he wanted to be alone with me in order to show me something better. As the time of prayer for the Mohammedans was drawing near, three of the attendants given to me by the governor went off, and I sent away the fourth to procure some bread, which is scarce in those parts. Being thus alone with me and my interpreter, the Banian, with great ceremony, removed his turban, and unbound his hair, which, according to the fashion, was tied up on his head. Then I saw him take from his hair a little bit of linen in which was wrapped a diamond weighing 48 1/2 of our carats, of fine water, and cabochon cut, three-fourths of the stone pure, except a small patch (chevron) on one side, which seemed to penetrate a little into the stone. The other quarter was all flaws and red flecks (points rouges).
"As I was examining the stone with great attention, the Banian said, 'Do not trouble to look at it now. You will see it at your leisure to-morrow morning when you are alone. When a fourth of the day has passed (for thus they reckon the time) you will find me outside the town, and if you want the stone, you will bring the money, and he then told me what he wanted for it. . . . . I did not fail to keep the appointment, and brought the sum he had asked, less 200 pagodas, which I kept in reserve. But in the end, after a little chaffering, I had to give him an additional 100 pagodas. On my return to Surat I sold the stone to a Dutch captain, making a decent profit on the transaction." |
You are here:
JJKent Home >>
Precious Stones Guide Vol 10
>> About the Purchase of the Banian Diamond
| <<About the Dresden Green Diamond | About the Antwerp Diamond and Its Unclear History>> |