The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-11-18
IT HE RES s /.
The Great Crown-Jewel of
Russia.


"God is God fear not" began the eldest oil
the brothers. 81 am Schairas, of Bassora, 10
whom you once came 10 sell large dlahohu,
called the Moon OF the Mountains and otner
precious stones. These are my brothers, VINO,
like myself, are pleased that we have iouhd
YOU. as we hope now to be able to make
bargain"
.Oh! woe is me, good sirs am no longer
the possessor of these treasures" replied the
Afghan.
IWhat have you done with them?"
"Allah be praised hive just sold them 10
the Jew Mardocha, OF this city,"
"For what price ?"
horses"
'YoU were fool and Mardocha theft
cried Schatras angrily. 81 would have eiyer
you twice that sum for the stones"
"God is great! They were offered to yor
for hall the sum; why were you such foo
as not to take them?"
Because L thought you a thief, and my
conscience would not allow me to buy stolen
goods. But what can't be cured must be en-
dured. Where does Mardocha the Jew live"
II will show you, good sirs, that there may
be no il-feeling between u.s."
The Afghan led the way to the house of the
Jew, which was on the bank OF the river Tt
girls. The brothers then thanked him kindly,
and the eldest went to see if he could make a
bargain with Mardocha.
.'Son of Israeli" said he, "you have a dia-
mond called the Moon of the Mountains a
sapphire called the Eye of Allah and other
precious stones, which you have lately bought
of wandering Afghan, who did not come in
possession OF them honestly. will give YOU
handsome sum for your bargain
"How much? ?" asked the Israelte, with the
air OF man who knows his business and the
value of his goods.
ssY0u cave az 000 niarfapS apd n ,,o;, -
horses tor them, will give you 5000 pias-
tiers, and take the risk"
~ should be sorry to see you loser" re-
piled the Jew, with an ironical smile.
II will double the sum you gave for them,"
said Schafras.
mo. tor million would give them to you.
Go your way; you know not the value OF
what you would purchase"
The Armenian took his leave, inwardly
cursing the Jew.
"He knows too much for u.s. could make
no bargain with the Jewish dogw said Scha-
tras to his brothers.
"Then We must take them without bar
gam" said the youngest in significant tone
His companions assented.
They now withdrew in order to decide up
on the plan they should pursue That night
the three villains murdered Mardocha, and
threw bis body out of his window into the
Ilgrs. Then they took all his money and
jewels and hurried away. The danger they
ran of being detected was far less than it
would have been in most other countries
Who in Basdad troubles himself about
lonely Jew?
The next morning the three brothers acct
dentally met the Afghan.
We'll slrs, what success? he asked.
"God is God, and Mahomet is his Prophet"
answered the eldest. "The Jewels are ours.
and to celebrate our good fortune. YOU must
sup with US this evening in our tent beyond
the city,"
Inc unsuspecting Afghan went with them
10 tnelr iens, whir "A was pitched in an OUT of
. .he-~ay pace on the bank OF the Tigrs, and
, ,no,e no -upped for the last time. Schatras
s m%s ways supplied with fatal poison,
~ lie of which he mixed in the Atghan's
food. When he was dead they threw his
body INTO the Tigris, saying:
$50 hence, fool, and be company tor the
Jew. Thus we destroy all knowledge of the
precious stones"
Then they struck their tent, mounted their
camels, and FASTENED 10 a solitary spot in Or
der to examine and divide their treasures.
They had no trouble with the money. Not
SO, however, with The jewels, for the large dia-
mond alone " as OF greater value than all the
rest. Each one wanted it for his share.
Their dispute seemed likely to lead to a seri-
Gus alteration, when the eldest brother made
the following proposal:
''By rights, the large diamond should be
mine," SAID he, ''for it was | who recognized
the Afghan. But tor me you would lot have
found him in Bagdad. In order, however,
that there may be harm ony among the
sons OF my mother, we will conterd no
longer, but leave the matter to the decision Of
the Prophet. Tomorrow morning each one
shall narrate the dream he has tonight, and
he who can adduce the cearest proof of the
So r1E4 he d.. Il. u.
the Mountains This we swear by the boards
of our fathers"
The younger brothers were content with
this proposition, for each one thought he
could surpass the others in imagining a dream
that would appear to come from the Prophet.
But the eldest brother mixed some OF the
poison he always carried about his person in
tne evening meal of the other two, and saw
them die with fiendish delight.
He now gathered together all his treasures
mounted his camel, and rode away. The other
camels he left to their fate, and
the bodies of his murdered brothers to The
Vultures. His plan was TO leave the country
as speedily as possible, and to make his way
TO some European court, where he cond dis
pose OF the Moon of the Mountains" for a
high price. On the road he sold his camel,
dressed himself as abegger, ard so, after
many adventures and great fatigue, he reach
ed Constantinople, where he took passage in
Dutch ship, for Amsterdam. Here, feeling
himself safe, he no longer made any secret of
his possessions, but, giving himself out to be
Jeweer, he offered his most valuable stones
Tor sale to the ambassadors of the principal
European courts.
The Moon Of the Mountains and the
"Eye ofAllah' were not wholly unknown in
Europe. They had for many years been in
the possession OF the royal family of Persia,
ana II was said that after the assassination of
Nadir Schah they, together with other pre-
cious stones, were stolen by common soldiers,
VINO were ignorant OF their value, 1t was.
therefore, only necessary for Schalras TO State
what he had to excite the interest OF the ANA
teurs.
But for long time there was no one who
seemed Inclined to enter Into negotiations
WIN nlm Tor the purchase OF the large dia-
hiond and the wonderful sapphire. AS. how
ever, the Moslem was well supplied with
money, and had, besides, number of small
stones that were easily available, he waited
patiently, feeling certaiD:that sooner or later a
customer would present himself.
The first serious inquiry alter the price Of
the "Moon of the Mountains" came from
Catharine ii. Of Russia. In ST. Petersburg
where they always well Dfofmed with regard
to what transpired at the Persian court thew
were most competent tc Judge of 1.-THE real
value of The stone.
lHe fODDer ana murderer demanded 500
O00 rubles, lie annuity OF 10000 rubles, and
patent of nobility
Catharine III. ordered one of her ministers
TO invite the pretended diamond merchant to
81. petersburg, that the court eweler might
examine the diamond, and estimate its value
The minister ordered the court-ieweler to
mold out to the Armenian the hope that the
empress would accept his proposal, and in
the mean time to lead him into all sorts of ex-
cesses and expenditures.
Schofras went to St. Petersburg, and soon
lell into the trap taat had been set for him.
Soon all his ready money was gone. and. as
he had credit everywhere-it being known
that he had business with the courtoit was
not long before he was cover head and ears,
IN deot. This was what the minister wanted
by the Russian law any foreigner NAV be nre-
vented from leaving the country SO long as he
Is III aebt. The supposition was that the
Armenian would at last be compelled to dix.
pose OF his diamond for whatever price he
could get Tor it.. f'''o No
"Iell INN that Her Majesty has decided
not to accede to his eXorbtant demands; and
then, II he must sell, pretend that you will
buy 1t ON your own account, and offer him
one quarter OF what the stone is worth p
such were the instructions of the minister tn
the court jeweler
ms message aud the offer of the ieweler
1peheu ochafras's eyes. "God is good and
;sEt is his Prcphetw he murmured -
of, neee Chtlstian dogs want to cheat me out
III u, 'hat ior winch have periled nv sonJ -
Ahe io"is nave got me into debt ana thirl
now snail be compelled to take onv -
they choose to offer me; but thev sso pi dee
that follower of the Prophet is a maich s gee