Q. Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately discussed about diamonds and diamond mines of India?
(a) Francois Bernier
(b) Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
(c) Jean de Thevenot
(d) Abbe Barthelemy Carre
Answer: (b) Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
Notes:
- Jean-Baptiste Tavernier was a French gem (particularly diamond) trader and traveller in the 17th century.
- He made six travels to Persia and India throughout his lifetime.
- Between 1638 and 1643 AD, during his second voyage, he came to India and travelled as far as Agra before arriving in the Kingdom of Golconda.
- He also paid a visit to the Shahjahan’s court and went on his first excursion to the diamond mines.
- Tavernier wrote Les Six Voyages de Jean-Baptiste Tavernier in 1675 at the behest of his patron Louis XIV (Six Voyages, 1676).
- In his book, he goes into great detail on diamonds and Indian diamond mines.
- He is famous for discovering and purchasing the Blue Diamond, which he later sold to Louis XIV of France.