the finest diamonds in the world, which are to be had in abundance at all times of the year, but chiefly in January, April, July, and October, but the greatest quantities in January and April, when they are brought down the river Lavee in proas.  They are said to be procured by diving, in the same manner with pearls; and the reason why they are to be had more abundantly at one season than another is, that in July and October there falls so much rain, that the river deepens to nine fathoms at the place where they are got, and occasions so rapid a stream that the people can hardly dive in search of them; whereas in other months it is only four fathoms or four and a half; which is found to be the best depth for diving.

[Footnote 151:  This is rather a vague account of so large an island, which reaches from the lat. of 4 deg. 20’ S. to 6 deg. 40’ N. and between the longitudes of 100 deg. 12’ and 119 deg. 25’ E. from Greenwich; being above 700 English miles from N. to S. and 670 from E. to W.—­E.]

The commodities most vendible at Succadanea are Malacca pintados, very fine sarapa, goobares, poulings, cherujava, calico lawns, light-coloured China silks, sewing gold, sleeve silk, stammel broad-cloth, all sorts of bugles, especially those blue ones which are made at Bantam, shaped like a hogshead, but about the size of a bean.  These cost at Bantam a dollar for 400, and are worth at Succadanea a masse the 100, a masse being three quarters of a dollar.  Likewise Chinese cashes and dollars are in request, but more especially gold; insomuch that you may have a stone for the value of a dollar in gold, which you would hardly get for a dollar and a half, or a dollar and three quarters, in silver.  On this account, therefore, when intending to sail for Succadanea, it is best to go in the first place to Banjermassen, where you may exchange your commodities for gold, which you may purchase at the rate of three cattees of cashes the Mallayan taile, which is nine dollars, as I have been credibly informed it has been worth of late years.  Afterwards carrying the gold to Succadanea, and paying it away for diamonds, at four cattees of cashes the taile, each of which is the weight of 1-3/4 and 1/8 of a dollar, you gain 3/4 of a dollar on each taile:  Yet, after all, the principal profit must be upon the diamonds.

The diamonds of Borneo are distinguished into four waters, which they call varna, viz.  Varna Ambon, varna Loud, varna Sackar, and varna Bessee.  These are respectively white, green, yellow, and a colour between green and yellow; but the white water, or varna ambon, is the best.  Their weights are called Sa-masse, Sa-copang, Sa-boosuck, and Sa-pead:  4 copangs are a masse; 2 boosucks a copang; and 1-1/2 pead is a boosuck.  There is a weight called pahaw, which is four masse, and 16 masse are one taile.  By these weights both diamonds and gold are weighed.