New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-26
THE MOUNTAIN OF LIGHT.
From the London Times.


at Portsmouth,, with freight more precious, ia
nominal value, than was ever carried ffon Peru %
Csdiz. Major Mackeson, one Of her passengers,
mertorious and disting uished officer, brings with
him that famous diamond Of the East called, in the
fcndress of Asiatic hyperbole, the Koh moor, or
Mountain Of Light, which, after symbozing the
revolutions Of ten generations by its passage fom
one conqueror to another, comes now, in the third
centenary ofits discovery, as the forfeit Of Oden
'alaithesness and tho prize Of Saxon valor to the
distant shores of England.
1t was in the year $780, before the Mogul dynas.
ty had been established by the prowess of the great
Akbar that this marvellous stone was FIRST brou yht
to light In the celebrated mines Of Golconda. The
Kingdom Of this name constituted one Of the i've
Mahometan States which, toward the close Of the
XVIII century, had been formed in the Deccan--
The diamond mines which have rendered il 50 fam.
Gus in story were situated at some distance 10 the
east of the capital city the present station Of
Condapily, and are DOW in our possession, though
they have long ceased - reward or invite the Ia.
bors Of treasure seekers. When the Mogul Prin.
ces extended their preteI sions to the sovereignty
of the Deccan, Kootnb Shah, then King OF Golcon.
da, was brought into collision with Shah Jehaun,
the TelgnlDR Emperor anu IAt0cF OF inc great
Aurunezebe. Kootub Shahs Prime Minister at
this period was the famous Nicer Jumla, q states.
man who, TO political abilities Of unusual excel
lence, added a singular knowledge of precious
stones. He had, in fact, been at one time a aia-
mond merchant, and was therefore peculiarly com.
petent TO appreciate the treasures OF Golconda.-
IL happened too, that Shah Jehaun himself was
connoisseur OF scarcely less skill, insomuch tina.
when, at a later period he had been dethroned and
imprisoned by his father, and doubt bad been
created respecting the value Of certain ruby In
the Imperial Treasury, the gem was actually trans
mitted TO the deposed Prince Tor his inspection and
decision. Two such characters were well fitted
for the transaction which ensued. Shah Jehaun
took up the cause Of Nicer Jumla against his
Sovereign ard the Kohl roor passed from Golcon.
da TO Delhi.
While the kingdoms Of the Deccan were sue.
cessiyey absorbed in the eliminating dominion Of
the Moguls, the Kohinoor rested among the trea.
sures Of Imperial Delhi, where, on the cd Of No.
vember, 1865, il VISA seen by the French traveller
TaseTnier. who, by the extraordinary Indulgence
of Aurungzebe was permitted to handle, examine
sLd weigh 1t, being the first and til nov probably
the last European who had ever enjoyed such a
privilege. The Great MOgul sat on his throne of
state, while the chief keeper of the jewels pro.
duced bis Jewels for inspection Two golden
dishes. The magnifcence Of the collection vas in.
describsble, but conspicuous In luster estsem and
value was the Kohl moor. Sometimes wors on the
person Of the Moguls, sometimes adjoining the IA.
nous peacock throne this inestmable gem was
safely preserved at Delhi, until in 1899, the empire
received It's fatal blow from the invasion Of Nadir
Shah. Among the spells OF conquest which tbs
Persian warrior carried back with him in triumph
TO Khorssss H. and which have been vari0usly es
timated as worth from 80 to 90 millions sterling
the Koh.i.noor was the most precious trophy; bat
il was destined to pass from Persia as quickly m
that ephemeral supremacy IN virtue oil winch II
bad been acquired Nadir Shah had entertained
in bis service body ef Afghans of the Abdallee
tribe, under the leadership OF Ahmed shah who
also served bis master In the capacity OF treasurer
and when the Persian coaqueror was asSasslnated
by his subjects, the Afghans, after yainly endeaT
oring TO rescue or avenge him, fought their way to
their own frontiers though only 1000 strong
through the hosts of the Persian army. La con
Quoting this intrepid retreat, Ahmed Shah carried
OF with him the treasures in bis possession, and
', as probably aided by these means, 40 well as by
his own valor, in consolidating the new State
which under the now familiar title OF the Dooran'
nee Empire, he speedily created in Cabal IL
seemed as II the Koh moor carried with Il the SOW
erejgnty Of Hindostan for the conquests Of Ahmed
were as decisive as those of Nadr, aud il was by
bis nomination and patronage that the las! Empe-
ror ascenGed the throne Of the Moguls
At the beginning Of the present century the rea.
sures and power OF Ahmed were vested In the per
son Of Zemaun Shah, subject TO the iacessant as
saults Of bis kinsmen. One Of these at length prov
ed successful, and In the year $500 Zemaun Shah
found himself prisoner at the isposal Of his broth
Shah Shuja, the identical puppet 40 years later,
Of our famous Cabul expedition, 90 that we are now
brought down 10 modern times and characters. Shah
shua presently ascended the throne Of his brother,
but the treasury of Cabul was wanting IN It's most
precious ornament ill at length. ingeniOusy secret
ed IN the wall OF Zemrun Shah prison, was discoy'
cred the Kohinoor. IL was eight years after THIS
while the Doorannee monarchy Wasstbi formidable
enough 20 inspire the powers OF the East WIN an.
essiness, that Mr.. Ephinstone, accredited oy Lord
Mimic 70 the Afghan Prince betook himself to what
was then the remote and unknown town OF Pesha'
wur where, at his state reception, the kohLnocr
again flashed, after an interval Of 30 many years,
upon the dszzled eyes Of European. Shah 5hujs,
sterw ard the client and pensioDer Of the East India
Company, was dressed O1 this occasion Ia a green
velvet tanic, fitting closely TO bis body, and scanned
With gold and precious stones On his breast was q
cuirass ofdismonds shaped like two lattened Esurs
deis, and in bracelet on bis right arm blazsd the
priceless jewel Of Goconda- TIE Prince gave gra-
cious audience to the Ambassador, aud Mr. El0hin.
stone retired but the Kohl moor was not fated long
10 continue in the divided and lettering family OF
the once powerful Abdallees.
The embassy had scarcely recrossed the Indus,
when Shah ShUjA was expelled from Cabul, though
he contrived 10 make this far famed diamond the
companion Of bis fight After msny viciss.tudes
Of exile and contest be nt length found an equiyocs
refuge under the protection Of that powerful chief
tain who bad nov consolidated the doninioas Of
the Slkhs into Royal Inheritance for bis oE1
fspily. RuDjeet Singh was fally competent either
10 the defence or the restoration Of the fugitive
bat be knew and suspected the treasure Ia bis pos
session, and his mind vas bent upon acquiring IL
He pot the Shah under strict surveillance, aud
made frnai demand Cor tho jewel The
DoOronDee PfiOce b stated, prevaricised' TEN