(via The Outline of Art) William Orpen writes:
3
The most considerable figure in Florence after Orcagna was the Dominican monk Fra Giovanni da Fiesole, known as Fra Angelico (1387-1455), who belonged essentially to the psychic or spiritual school, and only approached the physical in his loving observation of nature. Here he was an innovator, for his eye dwells on gentle aspects, and in his landscape backgrounds he introduces pleasing forms of mountains and verdant meadows multicolored with the budding flowers of spring. Indeed, all his paintings is flower-like, but this delicate naturalism does not determine its character. It is the soulful quality of his work which gives it supreme distinction. The unworldliness of his art is explained partly by his cloistered existence and the fact that he lived until his fiftieth year in the little hill towns of Cortona and Fiesole. He led a holy and retired life, and like St. Francis, was a little brother to the poor.
If Fra Angelico had his excellencies, he also had his limitations. His angels are so beautiful that, as Vasari wrote, ‘they appear to be truly beings of Paradise’. But his devils inspire us with no terror; they are too harmless and self-evidently ashamed of their profession to be anything but ludicrous. His frescoes in San Marco at Florence and in the Vatican at Rome remain the most enchanting visions of the heavenly world, a world he decked with bright joyful colors culled from the flower gardens of earth.
The Birth Of Modern Painting (continued)
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier’s Travels In India
The different kinds of weights for weighing diamonds at the mines; the kinds of gold and silver in circulation; the routes by which one is able to travel; and the rule in use for the estimation of the prices of diamonds
(via Jean-Baptiste Tavernier’s Travels In India / V Ball / Edited by William Crooke)
I come now to some details as to the traffic in diamonds, and in order that reader may understand this easily—believing that no one has previously written of this matter I shall speak in the first instance of the different kinds of weights which are in use, both at the mines and in other places in Asia.
At the mine of Rammalakota they weigh by mangelins, and the mangelin is equal to 1¾ carats, that is to say, 7 grains. At the mine of Gani or Kollur the same weights are used. At the mine of Soumelpour in Bengal they weigh by ratis, and the rati is 7/8ths of a carat, or 3½ grains. This last weight is used throughout the whole of the Empire of the Great Mogul. In the Kingdoms of Golkonda and Bijapur mangelins are also used, but the mangelin in these places is only 13/8 carats. The Portuguese use the same weight name in Goa, but it is then equal to only 5 grains.
I come now to the kinds of money with which diamonds are purchased in India. Firstly, in the Kingdom of Bengal, in the territories of the Raja of whom I have spoken, as they are included in the dominion of the Great Mogul, payment is made in rupees. At the two mines in the Kingdom of Bijapur, in the neighborhood of Rammalakota, payment is made in the new pagodas which the King, being entirely independent of the Great Moghul, coins in his own name. The new pagoda does not always bear the same value, for sometimes it is valued at 3½ rupees, sometimes more and sometimes less, according as it is raised or lowered by the state of trade, and according as the moneychangers arrange matters with the Princes and Governors. At the mine of Kollur or Gani, which belongs to the King of Golkonda, payment is made in new pagodas of equal value with those of the King of Bijapur. But one has to buy them sometimes at from 1 to 4 percent premium, because they are of better gold, and because the merchants do not accept others at this mine.
These pagodas are made by the English and Dutch, who have obtained from the King, either by agreement or by force, permission to manufacture them, each in their own fortress. And those of the Dutch cost 1 or 2 percent more than those of the English, because they are of better quality, and the miners also much prefer them. But as the majority of the merchants are influenced by the false reports that the people at the mine are unsophisticated and almost savages, and that, moreover, the routes from Golkonda to the mines are very dangerous, they generally remain at Golkonda, where those who work the mines have their correspondents to whom they send the diamonds. Payments are made there with old pagodas, well worn, and coined many centuries ago by different Princes, who reigned in India before the Musalmans gained a footing in the country. These old pagodas are worth 4½ rupees, i.e. 1 rupee more than the new, although they do not contain more gold, and consequently do not weigh more; this will be a cause of astonishment if I do not explain the reason. It is that the Shroffs of Changers, in order to induce the King not to have them recoined, pay him annually a large sum, because they themselves thereby derive a considerable profit; for the merchants never receive these pagodas without the aid of one of these Changers to examine them, some being defaced, others of low standard, others of short weight, so that if one accepted them without this examination he would lose much, and would have the trouble to return them, or perhaps lose from 1 to even 5 or 6 percent, in addition to which he must pay the Shroffs 1/4th per cent for their trouble. When you pay the miners, they will also receive these pagodas only in presence of the Changer, who points out to them the good and bad, and again takes his 1/4th percent. But to save time, when you desire to make a payment of 1000 or 2000 pagodas, the Changer, when receiving his dues, encloses them in a little bag, on which he places his seal, and when you wish to pay a merchant for his diamonds you take him, with the bag, to the Changer, who, seeing his own seal intact, assures him that he has examined all the coins, and will be responsible if any do not prove good.
As for rupees, the miners take indifferently those of the Great Mogul and those of the King of Golkonda, because those coined by this King would have been the coinage of the Great Mogul if these monarchs had remained on good terms.
The natives of India have more intelligence and subtlety than one thinks. As the pagodas are small, thick pieces of gold of the size of the nail on the little finger, and as it is impossible to clip them without it being apparent, they bore small holes in them all round, found whence they extract 3 or 4 sols value of gold dust, and they close them with such skill that there is no appearance of the coins having been touched. Moreover, if you buy anything in a village, or if when you cross a river you give the boatmen a rupee, they immediately kindle a fire and throw the rupee into it, from whence if it comes out white they accept it, but if black they return it; for all the silver in India is of the highest quality, and that which is brought from Europe has to be taken to the mint to be recoined. I say also that those are very much deceived (as merchant tried to make me believe on my first journey) who imagine that is answers to take to the mines spices, tobacco, mirrors, and other trifles of that kind to barter for diamonds; for I have fully proved the contrary, and am able to assert that the merchants at the mine who sell the diamonds require good gold, and the best too.
Now let us say something as to the routes to be followed to the mines. Some modern rather fabulous accounts represent them to be, as I have said, dangerous and difficult, and frequented by tigers, lions and barbarous people; but I have found them altogether different from what they were represented to be—without wild beasts, and the people full of good will and courtesy to strangers.
As for Golkonda, one need know but little of the map to be aware of its position; but from Golkonda to Rammalakota, where the principal mine is, the route is less known, and this is the one which I followed. The measure of distance in this country is the gos, and a gos is equal to 4 French leagues.
From Golkonda to Canapour, 1 gos; Canapour to Parquel, 2½; Parquel to Cakenol, 1; Cakenol to Canol—Candanor, 3; Canol—Candanor to Setapour, 1; Setapour to the river, 2. This river is the boundary between the Kingdoms of Golkonda and Bijapur.
From the river to Alpour, ¾ gos; Alpour to Canol, ¾; Canol to Raolconda, where the mine is, 2½. Thus in all it is 17 gos, or 68 French leagues from Golkonda to the mine. From Golkonda to the mine of Coulour, or Gani, it is 13¾ gos, which amounts to 55 of our leagues. From Golkonda to Almaspinde, 3½ gos; Almaspinde to Kaper, 2; Kaper to Montecour, 2½; Montecour to Nazelpar, 2; Sarvaron to Mellaserou, 1; Mellaserou to Ponocour, 1¾. Between Ponocour and Coulour or Gani (Kollur) there is only the river to cross. I come now to an important subject which is little understood in Europe.
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier’s Travels India (continued)
(via Jean-Baptiste Tavernier’s Travels In India / V Ball / Edited by William Crooke)
I come now to some details as to the traffic in diamonds, and in order that reader may understand this easily—believing that no one has previously written of this matter I shall speak in the first instance of the different kinds of weights which are in use, both at the mines and in other places in Asia.
At the mine of Rammalakota they weigh by mangelins, and the mangelin is equal to 1¾ carats, that is to say, 7 grains. At the mine of Gani or Kollur the same weights are used. At the mine of Soumelpour in Bengal they weigh by ratis, and the rati is 7/8ths of a carat, or 3½ grains. This last weight is used throughout the whole of the Empire of the Great Mogul. In the Kingdoms of Golkonda and Bijapur mangelins are also used, but the mangelin in these places is only 13/8 carats. The Portuguese use the same weight name in Goa, but it is then equal to only 5 grains.
I come now to the kinds of money with which diamonds are purchased in India. Firstly, in the Kingdom of Bengal, in the territories of the Raja of whom I have spoken, as they are included in the dominion of the Great Mogul, payment is made in rupees. At the two mines in the Kingdom of Bijapur, in the neighborhood of Rammalakota, payment is made in the new pagodas which the King, being entirely independent of the Great Moghul, coins in his own name. The new pagoda does not always bear the same value, for sometimes it is valued at 3½ rupees, sometimes more and sometimes less, according as it is raised or lowered by the state of trade, and according as the moneychangers arrange matters with the Princes and Governors. At the mine of Kollur or Gani, which belongs to the King of Golkonda, payment is made in new pagodas of equal value with those of the King of Bijapur. But one has to buy them sometimes at from 1 to 4 percent premium, because they are of better gold, and because the merchants do not accept others at this mine.
These pagodas are made by the English and Dutch, who have obtained from the King, either by agreement or by force, permission to manufacture them, each in their own fortress. And those of the Dutch cost 1 or 2 percent more than those of the English, because they are of better quality, and the miners also much prefer them. But as the majority of the merchants are influenced by the false reports that the people at the mine are unsophisticated and almost savages, and that, moreover, the routes from Golkonda to the mines are very dangerous, they generally remain at Golkonda, where those who work the mines have their correspondents to whom they send the diamonds. Payments are made there with old pagodas, well worn, and coined many centuries ago by different Princes, who reigned in India before the Musalmans gained a footing in the country. These old pagodas are worth 4½ rupees, i.e. 1 rupee more than the new, although they do not contain more gold, and consequently do not weigh more; this will be a cause of astonishment if I do not explain the reason. It is that the Shroffs of Changers, in order to induce the King not to have them recoined, pay him annually a large sum, because they themselves thereby derive a considerable profit; for the merchants never receive these pagodas without the aid of one of these Changers to examine them, some being defaced, others of low standard, others of short weight, so that if one accepted them without this examination he would lose much, and would have the trouble to return them, or perhaps lose from 1 to even 5 or 6 percent, in addition to which he must pay the Shroffs 1/4th per cent for their trouble. When you pay the miners, they will also receive these pagodas only in presence of the Changer, who points out to them the good and bad, and again takes his 1/4th percent. But to save time, when you desire to make a payment of 1000 or 2000 pagodas, the Changer, when receiving his dues, encloses them in a little bag, on which he places his seal, and when you wish to pay a merchant for his diamonds you take him, with the bag, to the Changer, who, seeing his own seal intact, assures him that he has examined all the coins, and will be responsible if any do not prove good.
As for rupees, the miners take indifferently those of the Great Mogul and those of the King of Golkonda, because those coined by this King would have been the coinage of the Great Mogul if these monarchs had remained on good terms.
The natives of India have more intelligence and subtlety than one thinks. As the pagodas are small, thick pieces of gold of the size of the nail on the little finger, and as it is impossible to clip them without it being apparent, they bore small holes in them all round, found whence they extract 3 or 4 sols value of gold dust, and they close them with such skill that there is no appearance of the coins having been touched. Moreover, if you buy anything in a village, or if when you cross a river you give the boatmen a rupee, they immediately kindle a fire and throw the rupee into it, from whence if it comes out white they accept it, but if black they return it; for all the silver in India is of the highest quality, and that which is brought from Europe has to be taken to the mint to be recoined. I say also that those are very much deceived (as merchant tried to make me believe on my first journey) who imagine that is answers to take to the mines spices, tobacco, mirrors, and other trifles of that kind to barter for diamonds; for I have fully proved the contrary, and am able to assert that the merchants at the mine who sell the diamonds require good gold, and the best too.
Now let us say something as to the routes to be followed to the mines. Some modern rather fabulous accounts represent them to be, as I have said, dangerous and difficult, and frequented by tigers, lions and barbarous people; but I have found them altogether different from what they were represented to be—without wild beasts, and the people full of good will and courtesy to strangers.
As for Golkonda, one need know but little of the map to be aware of its position; but from Golkonda to Rammalakota, where the principal mine is, the route is less known, and this is the one which I followed. The measure of distance in this country is the gos, and a gos is equal to 4 French leagues.
From Golkonda to Canapour, 1 gos; Canapour to Parquel, 2½; Parquel to Cakenol, 1; Cakenol to Canol—Candanor, 3; Canol—Candanor to Setapour, 1; Setapour to the river, 2. This river is the boundary between the Kingdoms of Golkonda and Bijapur.
From the river to Alpour, ¾ gos; Alpour to Canol, ¾; Canol to Raolconda, where the mine is, 2½. Thus in all it is 17 gos, or 68 French leagues from Golkonda to the mine. From Golkonda to the mine of Coulour, or Gani, it is 13¾ gos, which amounts to 55 of our leagues. From Golkonda to Almaspinde, 3½ gos; Almaspinde to Kaper, 2; Kaper to Montecour, 2½; Montecour to Nazelpar, 2; Sarvaron to Mellaserou, 1; Mellaserou to Ponocour, 1¾. Between Ponocour and Coulour or Gani (Kollur) there is only the river to cross. I come now to an important subject which is little understood in Europe.
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier’s Travels India (continued)
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Meet Me In St. Louis
Meet Me In St. Louis (1944)
Directed by: Vincente Minnelli
Screenplay: Sally Benson (novel); Irving Brecher, Fred F. Finklehoffe
Cast: Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien
(via YouTube): Meet Me In St Louis - the trolley song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UJLIrT_ALs
Meet Me In St Louis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DuG1SQkdqc
One of the greatest American movie musicals + a great voice. I enjoyed it.
Directed by: Vincente Minnelli
Screenplay: Sally Benson (novel); Irving Brecher, Fred F. Finklehoffe
Cast: Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien
(via YouTube): Meet Me In St Louis - the trolley song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UJLIrT_ALs
Meet Me In St Louis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DuG1SQkdqc
One of the greatest American movie musicals + a great voice. I enjoyed it.
The Knot
New Business Models: Carley Roney and David Liu writes about how they started The Knot (www.theknot.com) + other viewpoints @ http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1663316_1684619,00.html
House Style
Good Designs: (via The Guardian) Fiona MacCarthy writes about the Bauhaus movement + how it became a fashion in itself + other viewpoints @ http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/architecture/story/0,,2212350,00.html
Reflections On Three Decades At The Helm Of ARTnews
Total internal reflections of Milton Esterow @ http://artnews.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=1214
How Jeff Koons Became A Superstar
Ann Landi writes about Jeff Koons + his curious position as a marketing phenomenon + Kelly Devine Thomas's research + other viewpoints @ http://www.artnews.com/anniversary/top10.asp
Myanmar Rubies Have Dealers Seeing Red
Mick Elmore writes about gem dealers dilema + the pros and cons of banning Burmese rubies after the recent bloody crackdown + other view points @ http://www.newsweek.com/id/70770
Paul Simon
Paul Simon, is one of America's most respected songwriters and musicians + during his distinguished career he has received many awards and prizes, including 12 Grammy Awards, three for album of the year: 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' in 1970 (with musical partner Art Garfunkel), 'Still Crazy After All These Years' in 1976 and 'Graceland ' in 1986 + he is a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as half of the Simon and Garfunkel duo and again in 2001 as a soloist + he is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and a 2002 Kennedy Center Honoree + in 2006 Time Magazine named Paul Simon one of the '100 People Who Shaped the World' + he was the first American artist invited by President Nelson Mandela to perform in post-apartheid South Africa. Go to www.paulsimon.com for further information.
(via YouTube): Paul Simon - Graceland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtT7Og2LBbE
Paul Simon - You can call me Al
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4kH15Ny2ho
Paul simon - The obvious child
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJdAAozwq5Y
Paul Simon - Diamonds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNv2MoAghnU&feature=related
A real gem. I love his music.
(via YouTube): Paul Simon - Graceland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtT7Og2LBbE
Paul Simon - You can call me Al
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4kH15Ny2ho
Paul simon - The obvious child
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJdAAozwq5Y
Paul Simon - Diamonds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNv2MoAghnU&feature=related
A real gem. I love his music.
The Palatine Lion
(via Diamond Cuts in Historic Jewelry:1381-1910) Herbert Tillander writes:
In addition to other interesting diamond cuts, the pendant known as the Palatine Lion (in the Schatzkammer der Residenz, Munich) contains the flattest Pointed Star Cut I have ever encountered. The crown faceting is so low that it is almost impossible to distinguish—it does not even appear in a cast or impression. The flatness of the pavilion is emphasized by the culet, which is the size of a normal table facet. In fact, the diamond could just as well be set upside down and considered a thin Mirror Cut.
In addition to other interesting diamond cuts, the pendant known as the Palatine Lion (in the Schatzkammer der Residenz, Munich) contains the flattest Pointed Star Cut I have ever encountered. The crown faceting is so low that it is almost impossible to distinguish—it does not even appear in a cast or impression. The flatness of the pavilion is emphasized by the culet, which is the size of a normal table facet. In fact, the diamond could just as well be set upside down and considered a thin Mirror Cut.
The Birth Of Modern Painting
(via The Outline of Art) William Orpen writes:
2
While Giotto was laying the foundations of the art of Florence, another school of painting arose in the quiet hill city of Sienna. Its founder, Duccio di Buoninsegna, is said to have been so much influenced by the Byzantine style that he has been called ‘the last of the great artists of antiquity’, as opposed to Giotto, the ‘father of modern painting’. It is not easy to understand this comment if one looks at Duccio’s pictures, one of the most famous of which—‘The Kiss of Judas’. In spite of their color and their gilding the figures are human and life-like, and the picture reflects human emotion entirely in accord with the spirit of St. Francis. There is so much sweetness and grace in the paintings of Duccio and his fellows that they have been called the first lyric painters of modern art.
Among his younger contemporaries the most gifted was Simone Martini (c.1283-1344), whose work has the pensive devoutness that marks Siennese painting and a gay decorative charm. There is a picture by him at Oxford, and another in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, but perhaps his greatest achievement is the series of frescoes at Avignon. These were once attributed to Giotto, but are now recognized to have been the work of Simone Martini and his school. Among other Siennese artists the brothers Pietro and Ambrogio Lorenzetti are noted for the dramatic vigor in their work.
In the Florentine painting of the fifteenth century, the impulse towards naturalism, first given by Giotto, branched out in two opposite directions. One was psychic, the other physical. The expression of intense and strong emotion, together with action and movement was the aim of one school; another strove after realistic probability and correctness of representation. This second school, pushed on by its love of truth, attacked and vanquished one by one various problems of technique. The approach to a closer representation of the appearance of realities involved three main inquiries: (1) the study of perspective, linear and aerial; (2) the study of anatomy, of nude bodies in repose and action; and (3) the detailed truth of facts in objects animate and inanimate.
The Birth Of Modern Painting (continued)
2
While Giotto was laying the foundations of the art of Florence, another school of painting arose in the quiet hill city of Sienna. Its founder, Duccio di Buoninsegna, is said to have been so much influenced by the Byzantine style that he has been called ‘the last of the great artists of antiquity’, as opposed to Giotto, the ‘father of modern painting’. It is not easy to understand this comment if one looks at Duccio’s pictures, one of the most famous of which—‘The Kiss of Judas’. In spite of their color and their gilding the figures are human and life-like, and the picture reflects human emotion entirely in accord with the spirit of St. Francis. There is so much sweetness and grace in the paintings of Duccio and his fellows that they have been called the first lyric painters of modern art.
Among his younger contemporaries the most gifted was Simone Martini (c.1283-1344), whose work has the pensive devoutness that marks Siennese painting and a gay decorative charm. There is a picture by him at Oxford, and another in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, but perhaps his greatest achievement is the series of frescoes at Avignon. These were once attributed to Giotto, but are now recognized to have been the work of Simone Martini and his school. Among other Siennese artists the brothers Pietro and Ambrogio Lorenzetti are noted for the dramatic vigor in their work.
In the Florentine painting of the fifteenth century, the impulse towards naturalism, first given by Giotto, branched out in two opposite directions. One was psychic, the other physical. The expression of intense and strong emotion, together with action and movement was the aim of one school; another strove after realistic probability and correctness of representation. This second school, pushed on by its love of truth, attacked and vanquished one by one various problems of technique. The approach to a closer representation of the appearance of realities involved three main inquiries: (1) the study of perspective, linear and aerial; (2) the study of anatomy, of nude bodies in repose and action; and (3) the detailed truth of facts in objects animate and inanimate.
The Birth Of Modern Painting (continued)
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier’s Travels In India
A continuation of the Author’s Journeys to the Diamond Mines
(via Jean-Baptiste Tavernier’s Travels In India / V Ball / Edited by William Crooke)
From the fortress of Rohtas to Soumelpour it is 30 coss. Soumelpour is a large town with houses built only of clay, and thatched with the branches of the coconut tree. Throughout this march of thirty coss there are jungles which are dangerous, because the thieves, who know that merchants do not visit the mine without carrying money, attack them and sometimes murder them. The Raja lives half a coss from the town, and in tents placed on an eminence. The Koel passes the fort, and it is in this river that the diamonds are found. It comes from the high mountains to the south and loses its name in the Ganges.
This is the manner in which diamonds are sought for in this river. After the great rains are over, that is to say usually in the month of December, the diamond seekers await the conclusion of the month of January, when the river becomes low, because at that time, in many parts, it is not more than two feet deep, and much of the sand is left uncovered. Towards the end of January or commencement of February, from the town of Soumelpour and also from another town 20 coss higher up the same river, and from some small villages on the plain, about 8000 persons of both sexes and of all ages capable of working assemble.
Those who are expert know that the sand contains diamonds, when they find small stones in it which resemble those we call ‘thunder stones’. They commence to search in the river at the town of Soumelpour and proceed upstream to the mountains where it takes its rise, which are situated about 50 coss from the town. In the places where they believe there are diamonds they excavate the sand in the following manner. They encircle these places with stakes, fascines, and clay, in order to remove the water and dry the spot, as is done when it is intended to build the pier of a bridge. They then take out the sand, but do not excavate below the depth of two feet. All this sand is carried and spread upon a large space prepared on the banks of the river and surrounded by a low wall a foot and half high, or thereabouts. They make holes at the base, and when they have filled the enclosure with as much sand as they think proper, they throw water upon it, wash it and break it, and afterwards follow the same method as is adopted at the mine which I have above described.
It is from this river that all the beautiful points come which are called pointes naives (natural points), but a large stone is rarely found there. It is now many years since these stones have been seen in Europe, in consequence of which many merchants have supposed that the mine has been lost, but it is not so; it is true, however, that a long time has elapsed since anything has been obtained in this river on account of the wars.
I have spoken elsewhere of another mine of diamonds in the Province of Carnatic, which Mir Jumla, General-in-Chief and Prime Minister of State of the King of Golkonda, commanded to be closed, not wishing that it should be worked further, because the stones from it, or rather from these six mines—for there are six of them, close to one another—were all black or yellow, and not one of good water.
There is, finally, in the Island of Borneo, the largest of all islands in the world, a river called Succadan, in the sand of which beautiful stones are found, which have the same hardness as those of the river Koel, or of the other mines of which I have made mention.
General Vandime once sent me at Surat six of them, of 3 to 4 carats each, from Batavia, and he believed that they were not so hard as those from other mines, in which he was mistaken, because there is no difference in that respect; it was in order to ascertain the fact that he sent them to me. When I was at Batavia one of the chief officers of the company showed me a point naive of 25½ carats, a perfect stone, obtained in this river of Succadan. But at the price which he told me it had cost him he had paid more than 50 percent than I should have been willing to give for it. It is true that I have always heard that these stones are very dear. The principal reason which has prevented me from going to this river of Borneo is that the Queen of the Island does not allow foreigners to carry away the stones, and there are great difficulties in conveying them thence—the insignificant number which are carried away secretly are sold at Batavia. I shall be asked, without doubt, why I only mention the Queen of Borneo, and not the King. The reason is that in this Kingdom it is the women who govern and not the men, because the people are so particular about having for their sovereign a legitimate heir to the throne that, the husband not being certain that the children which he believes he has had by his wife are his very own, and wife being, on the contrary, quite certain that the children are hers, they prefer to have a woman for their ruler, to whom they give the title of Queen, her husband being her subject, and not having more power than that which she chooses to confer upon him.
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier’s Travels In India (continued)
(via Jean-Baptiste Tavernier’s Travels In India / V Ball / Edited by William Crooke)
From the fortress of Rohtas to Soumelpour it is 30 coss. Soumelpour is a large town with houses built only of clay, and thatched with the branches of the coconut tree. Throughout this march of thirty coss there are jungles which are dangerous, because the thieves, who know that merchants do not visit the mine without carrying money, attack them and sometimes murder them. The Raja lives half a coss from the town, and in tents placed on an eminence. The Koel passes the fort, and it is in this river that the diamonds are found. It comes from the high mountains to the south and loses its name in the Ganges.
This is the manner in which diamonds are sought for in this river. After the great rains are over, that is to say usually in the month of December, the diamond seekers await the conclusion of the month of January, when the river becomes low, because at that time, in many parts, it is not more than two feet deep, and much of the sand is left uncovered. Towards the end of January or commencement of February, from the town of Soumelpour and also from another town 20 coss higher up the same river, and from some small villages on the plain, about 8000 persons of both sexes and of all ages capable of working assemble.
Those who are expert know that the sand contains diamonds, when they find small stones in it which resemble those we call ‘thunder stones’. They commence to search in the river at the town of Soumelpour and proceed upstream to the mountains where it takes its rise, which are situated about 50 coss from the town. In the places where they believe there are diamonds they excavate the sand in the following manner. They encircle these places with stakes, fascines, and clay, in order to remove the water and dry the spot, as is done when it is intended to build the pier of a bridge. They then take out the sand, but do not excavate below the depth of two feet. All this sand is carried and spread upon a large space prepared on the banks of the river and surrounded by a low wall a foot and half high, or thereabouts. They make holes at the base, and when they have filled the enclosure with as much sand as they think proper, they throw water upon it, wash it and break it, and afterwards follow the same method as is adopted at the mine which I have above described.
It is from this river that all the beautiful points come which are called pointes naives (natural points), but a large stone is rarely found there. It is now many years since these stones have been seen in Europe, in consequence of which many merchants have supposed that the mine has been lost, but it is not so; it is true, however, that a long time has elapsed since anything has been obtained in this river on account of the wars.
I have spoken elsewhere of another mine of diamonds in the Province of Carnatic, which Mir Jumla, General-in-Chief and Prime Minister of State of the King of Golkonda, commanded to be closed, not wishing that it should be worked further, because the stones from it, or rather from these six mines—for there are six of them, close to one another—were all black or yellow, and not one of good water.
There is, finally, in the Island of Borneo, the largest of all islands in the world, a river called Succadan, in the sand of which beautiful stones are found, which have the same hardness as those of the river Koel, or of the other mines of which I have made mention.
General Vandime once sent me at Surat six of them, of 3 to 4 carats each, from Batavia, and he believed that they were not so hard as those from other mines, in which he was mistaken, because there is no difference in that respect; it was in order to ascertain the fact that he sent them to me. When I was at Batavia one of the chief officers of the company showed me a point naive of 25½ carats, a perfect stone, obtained in this river of Succadan. But at the price which he told me it had cost him he had paid more than 50 percent than I should have been willing to give for it. It is true that I have always heard that these stones are very dear. The principal reason which has prevented me from going to this river of Borneo is that the Queen of the Island does not allow foreigners to carry away the stones, and there are great difficulties in conveying them thence—the insignificant number which are carried away secretly are sold at Batavia. I shall be asked, without doubt, why I only mention the Queen of Borneo, and not the King. The reason is that in this Kingdom it is the women who govern and not the men, because the people are so particular about having for their sovereign a legitimate heir to the throne that, the husband not being certain that the children which he believes he has had by his wife are his very own, and wife being, on the contrary, quite certain that the children are hers, they prefer to have a woman for their ruler, to whom they give the title of Queen, her husband being her subject, and not having more power than that which she chooses to confer upon him.
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier’s Travels In India (continued)
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Loving America
Total internal reflections of Jay Dubashi on America @ http://www.valueresearchonline.com/story/storyview.asp?str=10618
I enjoyed it.
I enjoyed it.
Richard Wagner
(via YouTube): Richard Wagner Tannhäuser Karajan Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvieObtpItA
Beautiful music. I enjoyed it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvieObtpItA
Beautiful music. I enjoyed it.
Boris Gelfand
(via Dailyspeculations) Nigel Davies writes:
Very interesting Chessbase interview with Boris Gelfand.
Two of his most instructive comments:
'During the tournament I was concentrated solely on my games and was not thinking at all about my chances. It is a very strong tournament and I had to ensure that I'd have maximum concentration in every game and leave aside all the thoughts which could distract me. But of course, you have to keep on working hard on chess, keep you motivation and health in order to compete with younger players.'
Useful link:
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=4216
Brilliant!
Very interesting Chessbase interview with Boris Gelfand.
Two of his most instructive comments:
'During the tournament I was concentrated solely on my games and was not thinking at all about my chances. It is a very strong tournament and I had to ensure that I'd have maximum concentration in every game and leave aside all the thoughts which could distract me. But of course, you have to keep on working hard on chess, keep you motivation and health in order to compete with younger players.'
Useful link:
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=4216
Brilliant!
A Streetcar Named Desire
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
Directed by: Elia Kazan
Screenplay: Tennessee Williams (play); Oscar Saul (adaptation)
Cast: Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, Karl Malden
(via YouTube): A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) Full Film - Part 1/12
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9az00cDaMM
The best adaptation of a great play. Simply great. I enjoyed it.
Directed by: Elia Kazan
Screenplay: Tennessee Williams (play); Oscar Saul (adaptation)
Cast: Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, Karl Malden
(via YouTube): A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) Full Film - Part 1/12
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9az00cDaMM
The best adaptation of a great play. Simply great. I enjoyed it.
Tutankhamun Returns In A blaze Of Publicity - And Controversy
(via Guardian Unlimited) Charlotte Higgins writes about the most talked-about exhibitions of the year, Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs + the gilded coffinette (used to store the pharoah's viscera, which is inalid with carnelian, obsidian and rock crystal; a fabulously preserved ivory and ebony box; a gessoed wooden chest with decorative fretwork) + other viewpoints @ http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/news/story/0,,2210359,00.html
Out Of The Attic
Anneli Rufus writes about the evolution and growing appreciation of American folk art + collectors perception of beauty and individuality + the high prices they pay + other viewpoints @ http://artnews.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=1203
Sorting Out The Sunflowers
Sylvia Hochfield writes about Timothy Ryback + the controversy that surrounds the work of one of the world’s best-loved painters + his research (on written expert opinions and technical laboratory analyses of van Gogh paintings, private correspondence among van Gogh scholars, court decisions, unpublished letters by the artist’s associates, unpublished manuscript, biographies of van Gogh, and three volumes of his collected letters) + other viewpoints @ http://www.artnews.com/anniversary/top9.asp
Rough Ethics In New York
Chaim Even-Zohar writes about the public letter sent by Diamond Manufacturers & Importers of America (DMIA) to the Diamond Trading Company’s (DTC) managing director Varda Shine to secure greater DTC rough supplies for its manufacturers + other viewpoints @ http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp
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