The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-09-17
PROLOGUE.
The sronMso or SERISoArAr,a (l799);
(Erirseisd yfSs~ Fsaiiy Psgsr)

address these lines-written In India-to
my relatives in England.
NV object Is to explain the motive which has
induced me 70 refuse the right hand offriendship
10 my cousin, John Herncastle. The reserve
which have hitherto maintained in this matter
has been nisintcrpretei by members ofmy iami-
ly whose good opinion can not consent to for
felt I request them TO suspend their decision
until they have read my narrative. And l de-
clare, on my word Of honor, that what am now
about TO write is strictly and literally, the truth.
The private difference between my cousin and
me took its rise in great public event in which
we were both conoerned-the storming ofSeringa-
patam. under General Baird, on the ith Of May.
lI99.
In orlcr that the circumstances may be clear
Iy understood. must revert for moment TO the
period before the assault and 10 the stories cur
rent in our camp Of the treasure in jewels and
gold stored up in the Palace Of fseringspatam.
One of the widest Of these stories related to q
Yellow Diamond famous gem in the native
annals OF India
The earliest known traditions describe the stone
as having been set in the forehead Of the four
handed Indian god who typi6es the Moon. part
ly from its peculiar color, partly from asupersti-
ton which represented ID rs partaking OF the na-
ture Of the deity whom Il adorned. and growing
and lessening In lustre with the waxing and wan
ing Of the moon, Il first gained the name by which
IL continues 10 Be known In India 10 this day
the name of TiIx MooSsroSx. similar super
stition vas once prevalent, as have heard, In
ancient Greece and Rome; not applying. how
eyer( as In India), TO o diamond devoted TO the
service Of god. bat to . semi-transparcnt stone
OF the inferior order Of gems, supposed 10 Be af-
fected by the lunar inhuences-ths moon, In this
latter case also, giving the name by which the
stone is still known to collectors in ourow time.
The adventures Of the Yellow Diamond begin
with the eleventh century Of the Christian era.
Al that data the Mohammeian conqueror,
Mahmoud Of Ghirni crossed India; Seircd on
the holy city Of Somnauth; and stripped Of its
treasures the famous temple which had stood for
eenturies-the shrine Of Hindoo pilgrimage, and
the wonder Of the eastern world.
OF all the deities worshipel I'm the temple, the
n,con-god alone escaped the rspscity Of the eon-
quering Mohammeians. Preserved BY thrcc
BrAhmins, the inviolate deity. bearing the fel-
low Diamond In It's forehead, was removed by
night. and vas transported TO the sccoud Of the
sacred citis Of IudiA-ths city Of Bsnares.
Here. In . new shrine-in hall inlaid with
precious stones. under roof supported by pillars
Of gold-the moon-god Was set up and worshiped.
Here, on the night when the shrine was CON-
pleted, vishnu the Preservcr appeared To the
three frahmins In dream.
The deity brsathsd the breath Of his divinity
on the Diamond In tho forehead Of the goi.
And the Brshmins kneit and hid their faces In
their robss. The deity commanded that the
Mooustone should b watched, from that time
forth. by thrss priests in turn. night and day. to
the snd Of tho gensrAtions Of men. And the
Brshmins beard and bowed before hiswil The
deity predicted certain dsssscr 70 the presumptu-