Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-09-11

Diamonds. NJ: l1t rs. n X
WHERE THEY ARE FoUND-WHo FINDS
THEN - DIAMONDS IN THE UNITED
srATEs-CELEBRATED DIAMoNDs-YAL-
lie THEREoF-THE KoH-I-NooR, THE
BRAGANZA AND TIE sHAH-THElR USES
AND ABUSES.
OF all the precious gems the diamond
Is by far the most valuable. Aithougn
not possessing the virtue OF the opal
That of defying imitation, or the peculiar
end pleasing soft beauty OF the pearl,
or the ancient and grand history OF the
emerald, the diamond is, nevertheless,
prominently the finest jewel which
comes from natures laboratory. 1t IS
the one precious stone sought so eagerly
after by high and low, by the titled ana
affluent, as well as by those su1IeTing
from the reverses of position and Tor
tune. 1t is the vain hope of possessing
this Jewel that causes many unfortunate
fellows TO leave home and civilization
and expose themselves TO the effect OF
uneongenial climates, to the wrath and
hatred of unfriendly natives, and to all
manner of untold privation and suffer.
ing. Alas how often do many of them
return, convinced that to earn common.
living with his fellow is by far more easy
and profitable than the uncertain bust
ness of diamond hunting.
The diamond is found in all parts of
the earth-from the lowest point of At
RIGA to the extreme north of Russia in
the eastern continent, and from Patago-
MIA to Alaska in the continent containing
the new world. Nature seems to have
scattered her precious jewels lavishly
over her earth, favoring no particular
place. but causing the whole to sparkle
with her gems.
Diamonds were originally found in In
Ola; the natives were for long time ig-
porant of their value and it was not I'M
til many years after the discovery that
this precious stone began to be appreci-
ated. India has furnished the world
with so many variety of jewels that it
has become customary to call it the
''land of gems" In many parts of AT
RIGA, particularly in the south, the dla-
nond is found in great quantities. For
some years past the diamond fields OF
Africa have become much celebrated, at
tracing to it lovers of the stone from
all parts of the world-in fact the pres
sure has been so great and the hunters
so numerous that it has been stated the
fields are now quite. worked out, and it
Ii only on very rare occasions that dla-
mond is discovered. Diamonds are to
be found in Hindostan, and in almost
every country of the East.
In about the year 100 diamonds were
first discovered to have an existence in
Brazil The brilliants of that country
are very popular, and large majority
Cf the diamonds in the United States to-
Gay are said to have come from thence.
The finding of diamonds in Brazil is
principally done by negro slaves, whose
movements are closely watched by
overseers employed for that purpose.
Before proceeding to work the negroes
are stripped of all their clothing, leav
ing it in charge of the superintendent
os soon as diamond is found the slave
throws his hands and shouts vigor-
ously; he is then approached by the
overseer who receives his discovery, and
it is then carried to the inspectors who
decide upon its value. In every case the
slave is rewarded according to the value
of his discovery, and in some instances
these poor negroes in this way become
cutie wealthy. If the diamond weighs
over seventeen carats the slave is reward
ed with his freedom, and permission to
search for diamonds for his own bene-
fit.
Although great precautions are taken
against the stealing of the diamonds in
the mines, occasionally slave succeeds
in purloining one of these stones, which,
if disposed of will result in his fortune.
If any suspicion is attached to one of
the negroes, he is thoroughly searched,
his nostrils, ears ard mouth purged and
vigorously examined by persons who are
diamonds. In the mines of India the
same precaution of searching is extend
ed to the visitors, and even the ladies are
thoroughly examined, lest their desire to
possess the precious stone should over
come their honest feelings.
After the diamonds are found they are
carefully packed in cases and shipped
either to Amsterdam or to Paris to be
cut, and from thence delivered to the
world.
The art of diamond cutting is very in
teresting but very tedious The stone is
ground into the shape required by plac-
ing il against wheel which revolves
very rapidly, and which is armed with
diamond dust. 1t is not unusual to have
q diamond ground for a whole day with
out showing any perceptible difference!
on its surface. Diamond dust is the on
Iy thing that can be safely used to polish
the diamond, and thus the proverb,
''Diamond cut diamond, ," is based on
substantial fact The diamond may be
split with the chisel, by cutting along
The plane of the crystal, but as the op-.
Grafton is SO delicate and the risk so very
great, workmen prefer the slower but
surer method of grinding.
The famous diamonds of the world.
are as celebrated as great personages or.
great events. - The largest diamond.
known is the ''BraganZa," now in the
possession of the King of Portugal 1T
weighs 1880 carats, and is said to be a
remarkable brilliant by those who have.
lad the good fortune to witness it. 1T
has been stated, on the other hand, by
persons considered to be good authority
Of jewels, that the '.Braganza" is no
diamond at all, but merely a lump of
rock crystal. 1t is, however, quite i'm
possible to ascertain what it really is, as
the King will not allow the stone to be
seen, much less examined.
The famous Koh-i-noor," - the
sMountain of Light, now in the pos
session of the Queen of England, is,
without doubt, the most celebrated dia-
mond in existence. Its history is truly
remarkable, and, if written in detail,
would be very voluminous, and be al
most as wonderful and interesting as the
diamond itself. The ''Koh-i-noor first
belonged to the god Krischner, and was
stolen from him by sovereign, who in
his turn was robbed of it by a sovereign,
and so it has continued for thousand
years, until it finally fell into the hands
of the present possessor-her Majesty
the Queen.
The ''Koh-i-noor," originally weighed
793 carats, and to Aurunzebe-one of its
Owners-it occurred that the diamond
would be improved by having it cut and
polished. He gave it into the hands of
- diamond cutter, who unfortunately