Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-07-09
KOH.I.NOOR.
The True History Of the Great En-
A8A rHish Crown Jewel. 20
TCompiled for the Union and Americana

4 IL Compiled for the \ mon and A1herlcs-l e
The Koh. I-Noor was originally chande
lier ornament in the dancing school OF Mr.
Peter Fogrum, at Ponders End, London
Mr.. Fogrum, however, growing serious
turned his dancing school into 9 New
Light chapel and preached charity ser
mon in bis own behalf That night two
tascals determined to rob the church or the
collection, and, accordingly got in with q
one pronged fork. Finding, however, only
a penny token, card counter, penny lar
thing, and bad half crown; one OF them,
under the impulse of yeXation, jerked the
Koh-1-No DOR from its splace-the would-be
thief putting it into his pocket as memen-
to Of the transaction.
The next day William Priggias li9r tnat
was bis nancy enlisted in ID. 4, l. 20
| (Efis East India Co's) service, and p' esentty
joinel bis regiment at Jujerraoadao. MOI
hking the service, however, he shortly oe,
serted; BACKED himself all over; abstained
from wearing clothes, and became a thug.
After some brilliant strokes in this new
line be was ultimately apprehended by the
officers of the Rsiah Of Jiboetty7jaooetty,
when. TO save his neck, he offered to give up
the Koh-I-N Moor, which he affirmed he had
stolen from pawn brokers' shop in White
Chapelstreet London Il
Now the Raiah at that time was laborlng
under GREAT peclnisry embsrrassments; SO
much SO in fact as to have had serious no
tons of coming TO London and taking a
crossing, or singing Hindoo lyrics, with a
tum-tum, and his heir-apparent IN the
streets.
Being, however, a statesman of great fore
sight and sagaclty, he saw there was much
to be made out of the Koh-l-Noor; Tor thus
be called it for the first time-it formerly
having been called "Bit O. glass;"
In The city of Huggerrymug, the kaJahs
capital, there dwelt a jeweler Of enormous
wealth, named Tiffin Gong. Him the Ra-
iah ordered to be summoned when he pro-
pounded this query:
"Tiffin." said he, "What is the value of
this iewei?n showing him the Koh-I-Noor.
Tiffin took it between his thumb and fore
finger, and, after looking at it moment,
made his salaam and answered:
s'NIay the Rajah live forever, and until
the middle of the next week afterl 1t is
worth eighteen pice," (about three lar
things English money! -
"Look again, Tiffin," says the Rajah,
sand then look at that bowstring, and say
if 1T is not worth twenty million laos OF ru-
pees." -
And the Rajah put his hand to his throat
and made a kind of cheerful, gurgling,
choking noise.
UUpon second Thoughts" said Tiftin, "it
is worth twenty million laos of rupees"
The Raiah then ordered in his durbar or
council, who were sitting on door mats,
smoking, in the lobby outside, when he re-
peated his query, to which Titin, with one
eve on the oY-string, gave his second an
sWer. -..
aYou see, gentlemen" said the Rsjah,
"Tifin Gong is an excellent judge OF jewels.
He saws this gem is worth twenty million
laos of rupees. Now, he shall have 1t for
nineteen and half, which is precisely the
same as if L had made him present OF hall
million laos" .E
The Council, of course, went into exta-
cies at the generosity OF the RaJah, ana
sang the national anthem "Bramah Save
the Rsjah," with the greatest energy and
enthusiasm.
As for Tiflin Gong, he saw he was gone
coon. He had not got exactly nineteen ana
a half millions of lacs, but he handed over
nineteen and a quarter; upon which, the
Rajah, taking this to be breach OF con-
tract, kept the RUPEES and the Kohl Moor
both; and when Tiifin complained OF being
kept hanging around court waiting to get
his own, the Rajab told him he might try
another sort of dangling; and so had him
swung literally and in thorough downright
good earnest.
Being undisputed owner Of the Kohl
Moor the Raiah now ordered it to be pub,
lished throughout his dominions, and all
who presumed to doubt the authenticity
of the Jewel were beheaded, except a few
who were hanged.
The Rajah afterwards wore it to his nose
as an ornament, but he was at once made
war upon by a neighboring Rajah, who de-
termined to have a grab at The treasure
The two Rajah's met in single combat
All that remained after the fight, was a
pair of thumbs-a scrap Of whisker which
could not be identified; and the Kch-l-Nool
living between them.
1t afterwards fell into the hands OF Ma
hOmmed Bung; but he was speedily MADE
war upon by the great Mahratta chiettaln
later Kahn, who soon reduced him to great
| extremities. Bung, in fact, as a last re
source, swallowed the stone, which chokec
him; but later had it out in no time, as h'
afterwards expressed it, 'By the aid o
! Allah, and an oyster knife"
Finally, these hostile chieftains, who
were necessarily cutting each others throats
or putting arsenic into each others currys
in order TO get at this bone, or rather stone
of contention, feel largely in arrears to ID
Ell. c., which accordingly sliced on tn
Koh-i-Noor, and sent it home; when, MI
Bramab, (who is no relation OF the idol G
that name,) made cage for it, in which
exhibit it to an admiring public.
1t is to be regretted that the many rub
the Koh-I-Noor has received have failed
highten its brilliancy, and that its lustur
now, is no greater than originally, when
hung in the dancing school Of Mr.. Pete
FogTum, at Ponders End.