The decades of the newe worlde or west India conteynyng the nauigations and conquestes of the Spanyardes, with the particular description of the moste ryche and large landes and ilandes lately founde in the west ocean perteynyng to the inheritaunce of the kinges of Spayne. ... Wrytten in the Latine tounge by Peter Martyr of Angleria, and translated into Englysshe by Rycharde Eden.

¶ Of the prices of precious stones and Spices, with theyr weightes and measures as they are accustomed to bee soulde bothe of the Moores and the gentyles: And of the places where they growe.

FOrasmuch as in dyuers places of this historie, mention is made of precious stones, I haue thought good to declare sumewhat aswell of theyr prices as of the places of theyr generati∣on, that wee may not vtterly bee ignorant of the thinges which we so greately esteeme and bye so deare.

Of the Rubie.

THe Rubies growe in India: and are founde for the most parte in a ryuer named Pegu. These are of the best kind and fineste, whiche they of the lande of Malabor caule Nunpuclo, and are well soulde if they bee fayre and cleane without spottes. The Indians to know theyr finenesse, put them vppon theyr toonges, coumptynge that to bee best that is couldest and most harde. And to see theyr finenesse, they take them vp with a piece of waxe by the sharpest poynt: and lookynge ageynst the lyght, espie in theim euery smaule spot or flake. They are also founde in certeyne diepe fosses or pit∣tes which are made in mountaynes that are beyonde the said ryuer. They are scoured and made cleane in the countrey of Pegu. Yet can they not square and polyshe them. But for this purpose sende them to dyuers other contreys, and especi¦ally to Paleatate, Narsinga, Calicut, and the region of Ma¦labar, where are many cunnynge Lapidaries.

And to gyue yow intelligence of the value of these stones, ye shall vnderstande that this woorde Fanan, signifiethe a weight sumwhat more then two of owre carattes: And .xi. Fanans and a quarter, is one Mitigal: And .vi. Mitigales and a halfe, make one vnce. This Fanan,* 1.1 is also a kynde of money which is in value, one ryale of syluer. And therefore after this accompte I say that

Eyght fiue rubies of the weyght of one Fanan (which are in all, abowt two carat••es) are in value.* 1.2	Fanan x.
Foure Rubies that wey one fanan, are worth	Fanan xx.
Two that wey one fanan	Fanan xl.

One that weyth three quarters of one fanan	Fanan xxx.
One that weyth one fanan	Fanan l.
One that weyth one fanan and a quarter.	Fanan lxv.
One that weyth one fanan and a halfe	Fanan C.
One that weyth one fanan and three quarters	Fanan Cl.
One that weyth two fanans.	Fanan CC.
One that weyth two fanans and a quarter	Fanan CCl.
One that weyth two fanans and a halfe	Fanan .ccc.
One that weyth two fanans and thre quarters	Fanan cccl.
Of three fanans	Fanan cccc.
Of three and a quarter	Fanan D.
Of three and a halfe	Fanan Dl.
Nf three and three quarters.	Fanan Dc.
Of three and three quarters and a halfe	Fanan Dcxxx.
Of foure fanans	Fanan Dclx.
Of foure and a quarter	Fanan Dcc.
Of foure and a halfe	Fanan Dcccc
Of fyue fanans	Fanan M.
Of fyue and a halfe	Fanan Mcc.
Of syxe fanans, which are about .xii. carattes.	Fanan .MD.

which make .150. crownes of golde.

And these are commonly the prices of perfecte Rubies. But suche as are not perfecte, and haue any spottes in them, or are not of good coloure, are of lesse prise accordynge to the ar¦bitriment and estimation of the byer.

¶ Of the Rubies which growe in the Ilande of Zeilam.

IN the Ilande of Zeilam, beinge in the seconde India, are founde many Rubies which the Indians name Manecas, the greatest parte wherof do not arriue to the perfection of the other aforesayde in coloure, bycause they are redde as though they were wasshed, and of a fleshye colour. Yet are they very coulde and harde. The perfectesse of theym are greatly estee∣med amonge the people of the Ilande, and reserued only for the kynge hym selfe if they bee of any great quantitie. When his iewelers fynde any bygge piece of this rocke of the beste kynde, they put it in fyer for the space of certeyne houres. Which if it coomme owt of the fyer vncorrupte, it becommeth of the coloure of a burnynge cole, and was therfore cauled of the Greekes, Anthrax, which signifieth a burnyng cole. The

same that the Greekes caule Anthrax, the Latines caule Car∣bunculus. These they greatly esteeme. When the kyng of Nar¦singa can get any of theym, he causeth a fine hole to bee boo∣red in the vndermost part of them to the myddest: And suffe∣reth none of thē to passe owt of his realme: especially if they haue byn tryed by the sayde profe. These are of greater va∣lue then the other of Pegu, if they bee in theyr naturall per∣fect••on and cleanenesse.

Of these, one that weith a carratte (whiche is halfe a fanan) is woorthe in Calecut.	Fanan xxx.* 1.3
One of two carattes	Fanan .lxv.
Of three carattes.	Fanan cl.
Of three carattes and a halfe	Fanan cc.
Of foure carattes	Fanan ccc.
Of foure carattes and a halfe	Fanan cccl.
Of fyue carattes	Fanan cccc.
Of fyue carattes and a halfe	Fanan ccccl.
Of syxe carattes	Fanan Dxxx
Of sixe carattes and a halfe	Fanan Dlx.
Of seuen carattes	Fanan Dcxxx
Of seuen carattes and a halfe	Fanan Dclx.
One of .viii. carattes that hath bynne wel proued in the fier, is woorthe	Fanan Dccc
Of .viii. carattes and a halfe	Fanan Dcccc.
One such of tenne carattes	Fanan M ccc
One of .x. carattes and a halfe	Fanan M d c
Of .xii. carattes	Fanan MM
Of .xiiii. carattes	Fanan MMM
Of .xvi. carattes	Fanan 6000.

¶ Of the kynde of Rubies. cauled Spinelle.

THere is also founde an other kynde of Rubies which wee caule Spinelle and the Indians, Caropus. They growe in the selfe same countrey of Pegu where as are the fine Rubies. And are found in the mountaynes in the vpper crust or floure of the earth. These are not so fine nor of so good co∣lour is are the trewe Rubies: But haue sumwhat the colour of a granate which we commonly caule a garnet. Yet of these

suche as are parfecte in theyr coloure, are of value halfe lesse then trewe Rubies.

¶ Of the Rubies cauled Balassi.

BAlassi, are of the kyndes of Rubies, but are not so harde. Theyr colour is sumwhat lyke a rose, and sum are in ma¦ner whyte. They growe in Balassia, whiche is a region within the firme lande aboue Pegu and Bengala: And are browght from thense by marchauntes of the Moores to Cal••¦cut where they are wrought and polysshed: And are sould of the same price that are Spinelle.

¶ Of the Diamundes of the owlde myne.

THese Diamundes are founde in the fyrste India in a kyngdome of the Moores named Decan, from whense they are brought to other regions. There are also founde other Diamundes whiche are not so good, but sume∣what whyte, and are cauled Diamundes of the newe myne which is in the kyngedome of Narsinga. They of the owlde myne, are not polyshed in India, but in other places. There are made lykewyse in India, other false Diamundes of Ru∣bies, Topases, and whyte Saphires, whiche appere to bee fine: and are also founde in the Ilande of Zeilam. These stones differ in none other, sauynge that they haue loste their naturall colour. Of these, summe are founde that haue halfe the coloure of Rubies, and other of Saphires: other also of the coloure of a Topase. Other haue all these coloures men∣geled togyther. They bore a fine hole in these throughe the myddest, wherby they appere lyke the eyes of a catte. Of the whytest, they make many smaule diamundes whiche can not bee knowen from the trewe, sauynge by touchinge of such as are skylfull in that practise. They are soulde by a poyse or weight which they caule Mangiar, which wayeth two Tar∣re, and two thyrdes, which amount to two thyrdes or thirde partes of one caratte. For foure Tarres, wey one fanan whi∣che is abowt two carattes.

Viii. Diamundes that wey one mangiar (which is two third partes of a caratte are in value. which are three crownes of golde.	Fanan xxx.

vi. Diamundes that wey one mangiar	Fanan xl.
Foure that wey one mangiar	Fanan lx.
Two that wey one mangiar	Fanan lxxx.
One that weith one mangiar	Fanan C.
One of one mangiar and a quarter	Fanan clxv.
One of one mangiar and a halfe	Fanan clxxx.
Of one mangiar and three quarters	Fanan ccxx.
Of two mangiars	Fanan cccxx.
Of two mangiars and a quarter	Fanan ccclx.
Of two mangiars and a halfe	Fanan ccclxxx
Of two mangiars and three quarters ful perfect	Fanan. 420
Of three mangiars of lyke perfection	Fanan ccccl.
Of three mangiars and a halfe	Fanan cccclxxx.
Of foure mangiars	Fanan Dl.
Of fyue mangiars	Fanan Dccl.
Of syxe mangiars	Fanan Dccc.
Of seuen mangiars.	Fanan Mcc.
Of eyght mangiars	Fanan Mcccc.

And thus they proceade, increasynge the price as they in∣crease in weight.

¶ Of Saphires.

IN the Ilande of Zeilam are founde the beste and moste trewe Saphires, beinge very harde and fiue, and of the coloure of azure. They are of price as foloweth.* 1.4

One that weith one caratte is of value which are abowt two marcels of syluer.	Fanan ii.
One of the weight of two carattes	Fanan v.
Of three carattes	Fanan x.
Of foure carattes	Fanan xv.
Of fyue carattes	Fanan xviii
Of syxe carattes	Fanan xxviii
Of seuen carattes	Fanan xxxv.
Of eyght carattes	Fanan l.
Of nyne carattes	Fanan lxv.
Of tenne carattes	Fanan l.
Of .xi. carattes	Fanan lxv.
Of .xii. carrates	Fanan lxxv.
Of .xiii. carattes in all perfection of coloure	Fanan Cxv.
Of .xiiii. carattes.	Fanan Clx.

Of .xv. carattes	Fanan Clxxx.
Of .xvi. carattes	Fanan CC.
Of .xviii▪ carattes	Fanan CCl.
One that weith a mitigal, which is .xi. fanans and a quarter th••t is abowt xxiii. carattes.	Fanan CCCl.

Lykewyse in the Ilande of Zeilam, is founde an other sorte of Saphires which they caule Quinigelinam. These are not so stronge, or darker colour and of much lesse value th••n are the other of the best kynde, wherof one is woorth .xiii. of these of equall poise. Also in the kyngedome of Narsinga, in a mountayne aboue Bacanor and Mangalor, is founde an o∣ther sort of Saphires more tender and of woorse colour, whi∣che they caule Cinganolam. These are sumwhat whyte and of smaule value: So that the most perfect of this kynde, wey¦inge .xx. carattes, is not woorth one ducate. Theyr colour is inclynynge sumwhat to yelowe. There is lykewyse found an other kynde of Saphires vppon the sea coastes of the kynge∣dome of Calicut, in a place named Capucar. These the Indi∣ans caule Carahatonilam. They are of a ••arke asure coloure not shynynge but in the cleare ayer. They are also tender and bric¦kle, and of smaule estimation amonge the Indians. They seeme on the one syde lyke glasse.

¶ Of Topasies.

THe natural Topasies, growe in the Ilande of Zeilam, and are named of the Indians Purceragua. It is a harde and fine stone: and of equall estimation with the Ru∣bie and the Saphire, bycause all these three are of one kynd. The perfecte colour of this, is yelowe lyke vnto fine beaten golde. And if it bee perfect and cleane, whether it bee greate or lyttle, it is woorth in Calicut as much fine gold as it wey¦eth. But if it bee not perfect, it is woorth the weight of gold the fanan, which is lesse by the halfe. And if it bee in maner whyte, it is woorth much lesse. And of these, are smaule di∣amundes counterfecte.

¶ Of Turquesses.

TUrquesses are founde in Erer a place of Siech Ismael. Theyr mine is a drye eacth that is founde vpon a black

stone, which the Moores take of in smaule pieces, and carye them to the Iland of Ormus, from whense they are brought to dyuers partes of the worlde by sea and by lande. The In∣dians caule them Perose. They are soft stones, of smaule weight and not much coulde. And to knowe that they are good and trewe, in the day they shall appere of the verye colour of the Turquesse: and in the nyght by the lyght, they shall appere greene. They that are not so perfect, doo not so change there colour to the sight. If these stones bee cleane and of fine co∣lour, they haue vnderneth in the bottome, a blacke stone, vp∣pon the which they growe. And if any lyttle vayne ryse vp∣pon the sayde stone, it shalbe the better. And to knowe more certeynely that they are trewe Turquesses, they put on the toppes of them a lyttle quicke lime tempered with water after the maner of an oyntment. So that if the quicke lime ap∣pere coloured, they are iudged perfecte, and are of value as foloweth.

One that weith one caratte, is worth in Malabar.	Fanan .xv.
One of two carattes	Fanan xl.
Of foure carattes	Fanan xc.
Of .v••. carattes	Fanan Cl.
Of .viii. carattes	Fanan CC
Of .x▪ carattes	Fanan CCC
Of .xii. carattes	Fanan CCCCl
Of .xiiii. carattes	Fanan Dl.

Of greater then these they make none accompte byc••use they are lyghter pieces and of greater circuite. These of the byg∣gest sorte the Moores carie into the kyngedome of Guzerath.

¶ Of Iacinthes.

IAcinthes growe in the Ilande of Zeilam. They are ten∣der stones and yelowe. They are best that are of d••••peste colour. The greatest part of these, haue in them certeine pimples or burbuls, whiche diminishe theyr fayrenesse. And they that are in theyr persection cleane from this deformitie, are neuerthelesse of smaule value. For in Calicut where they are polysshed, they that wey one fanan are woorth no more then halfe a fanan. And they of .xviii. fanans, are not worth xvi. fanans.

There are also founde other stones lyke vnto cartes eyes, as Chrisolites, and Amethistes, whiche they doo not muche esteeme bycause they are of smaule value, as also the stones cauled Giagonze.

¶ Of Smaragdes or Emeraldes.

SMaragdes growe in the countrey of Babilon, where the Indians caule the sea Dieguan. They grow also in other partes of India. They are stones of fayre greene colour, and are lyght and tender. Of these stones, many are conter∣fecte. But lookyng on them curiously towarde the lyght, the conterfectes shewe certeyne burbuls, as doot•• glasse. But in the trewe, there is no such seene. But rather there appea∣reth to the eye a certeyne verdour shynynge lyke the beames of the soonne. And beinge rubbed vppon the touche stone, they leaue the coloure of copper. And the Smaragde of this sorte is the best and most trewe: And is in value in Calicut, as much as a diamunde and sumwhat more: And this not by weyght, but by greateness, bycause the diamunde quantitie for quantitie, is of greater weyght then the Smaragde. Ther is lykewyse founde an other kynde of Smaragdes, whiche are greene stones, but not so much esteemed. Neuerthelesse, the Indians reserue these to set them foorth with other pre∣cious stones. They leaue not any greene coloure vppon the touche.

Notes

• * 1.1

  One caratte is iiii. graines
• * 1.2

  which is one crown of golde
• * 1.3

  which are iii. crowes of golde
• * 1.4

  A marcell, is a syluer coine of Uenice, of xi. vnces .iii. d. with fine, wherof ten make an vne.