Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-11-14
RUSSIAN GROWN DIAMONDS.

siderable amount The two most valua-
bic are diamonds, one Of the Size of a
pigeons egg, cut in rose. The Russians
have given it the name Of the OrIof.- |
The other has the form Of an irregular
prism, and is the size, and almost The
length of the little finger, II bears the
name of Shall, and its history is as fol-
lows 1t formerly belonged to tie So
phis, and was one Of the enormous dia-
monds which ornamented the throne
of Nadir Shah, and which were dcsigna-
tod by the Persians BY the names Of the
Sun of the Sea and Moon of the Noun
tains. When Nadir was assassinated his
treasures were Pillased, and his precious
stones divided among few soldiers, who
carefully concealed them. An Armeni-
an named Shafras, resided at that period
Bassora, with his two brothers. One
day an Afghan came to him and offered
for sale the large diamond, the Moon OF
the mountains, as well as an emerald, a
ruby Of fabulous size, sapphire of the
finest water. called by the Persians-
T. The Eye Of Allah" and other stones,
for the whole of which he asked such a
moderate price that Shafras suspected
J.
that they Lad not been honestly come by,
and told him TO call again, as he had no.;
the money in the house. The Afghan.
fearing that Shafras. was going TO act with
treachery towards him, left the place, and
could not be found, although the brothers
made every search for him. Some years
afterward the elder brother met the same
man at Bagdad, who told him that he
Just sold all his precious stones for sixty
five thousand piastres and pair of valu-
cble horses. Shafras had the residence
: of the purchaser, who was Jew, pointed
ont TO him, and he went TO him and offer
: ed him double the price he had just Civ
en- for them, but was refused Th,
/. three brothers then agreed to murder the
. Jew, and rob him Of his purchase, whicl
: they did, and on the following day pois
. oned the Afghan, and threw both th,
! bodies into the river. A dispute sool
: arose between the brothers as to the di
vision Of the spoil, which terminated il
Shafras getting rid of his two brothers D.
/ poison, after which he fled to CONSTANT
] nople, and thence TO Holland, and tlier
e made known the riches he possessed, anC
Il offered them for sale to the dfferen
It courts Of Europe. Catharine ii. propos
e ed TO buy the Moon of the Mountains on
ly. Shafras was requested to come f
Russia, aud he was introduced to tn
e jeweler. The terms demanded we're
Letters of nobility, life annuity of te
/ thousand roubles, and five hundred thou
sand rubles payable by equal installment
in ten years. Count Panin, who wa
% then minister, delayed the settlement
the bargain as long as possible, and i
ID the meantime had the Armenian led int
such extravaganza that he fell into deb
Is and when the minister found that he ha
* no means of paying what he owed, i
Pr abruptly broke off the negotiation, Sha
! ras, according to ice laws Of the coGnsT
50 could not leave until his debts should |
paid, and the court jeweler prepared
I'd take advantage ofhis embarresments, an
intended that the diamond should fall il
ht to his hands for a fourth part Of
3a value.
i Shafras, however, discovered the tr,
that had been laid for him, aud disposir
Of some of the less valuable stones amor
20 his countrymen, paid bis debts, and d
'n' preared. Agents were sent after hi
" who had even orders TO asssassinaie a
rob him, but he escaped them. I
q" years after, while he was at Astraks
'I renewed offers were made to him, but
'Se refused to enter into negotiations, uni,
i'n the bargain should be settled at Smyrr
A'' Caiharine accepted and became the p,
SCISSOR of the diamond for letters of mol
- ity, six hundred thousand roubles, a
one hundred and seventy thousand paI
roubles (making, together, about two a
gu a half millions Of franks.) Shafras, J
being abletoreturu 70 his country, whs
.. le would have 10 give an account Of 1
'H' homieides and two ffatrieides, fixed hi
- self at Astrakan, where he married
country woman OF his and had se'
~ 49, daughters. One Of his sons-in-law ~
oned him for the sake Of possessing
share Of bis property. The inme
fortune which the murderer had aeqai
" (from ten 10 twelve millionsl was a
" ded, and soon spent by bis successors,
=, - several Of the grandchildren Of Sha
~ are now living at Astrslan in abjecf I