Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-07-15
The Royal Jewels OF Persia.

i went, Says EcCcub WIltcH, Will
the Turkish Minister, an italian, and I
Russian lady, to see the Shah's jewels
which are certainly the greatest sight il
their way that the world can show. W,
presented ourselves at the palace, anG
were received by Yahya Khan, who tool
us out Of the second and INNER greai
court of the palace into small quad
rsngle, not far from the sacred pre-.
cincts of the harem. We then went uI
q steep staircase to q small room about
20 feet by IA, where jewels to the value
of &c, 900, 900 or $1,000, 900 were laid
out on carpets at the far end of the
room. Near the jewels, on a chair, sat
the Mustauful Mamalik, or Persian
Chancellor of the Exchequer, and being
a Saiyid, wore the sacred color.
SIN such show of gems as seemed
to realize the wonders Of Aladdin's
lamp, the eye was too much dazzled
and the memory too confused for de-
scription to be possible. But I remem-
Der that at the back of all was the
Kaianian crown, and on either side OF
it two Persian lambskin caps, adorned
with splendid aigrettes of diamonds.
The crown itself was shaped like q
flower pot, with the small end opened
and the other closed. On the top of
the crown was an uncut ruby, appar-
emily without flaw, as large as hens
egg. In front of the crown were dresses
covered with diamonds and pearls;
trays with necklaces of pearls, rubies
and emeralds, aud some hundreds of
diamond ruby and turquois rings. In
front of these, again. were gauntlets
and belts covered with rubies and dia-
monds; and, conspicuous among them,
the Kaianian belt, about foot deep,
weighing, perhaps, about eighteen
pounds, and one complete mass of
pearls, diamonds, emeralds and rubies.
Still nearer to us stood drinking bowl,
studded with enormous jew
els; tray full of foreign orders set in
brilliants, and in front of all lay dozen
swords, which are worth a quarter of q
million each. Along with these were
epaulets, covered with diamonds, and
armlets SO contrivsd that brilliants re-
volved and kept up continuous scin-
tillation.
'It was difficult among so many to
single out particular gems. Perhaps,
however. the first place ought to be
assigned to the famous 'Darya-i-Noir,
or Sea of Light, the sister diamond to
our Punjab trophy, the 'Koh-i-Noor,
or Mountain of Light 1t is an inch
and half long. an inch broad, and
three-eighths of an inch thick. 1t has
the name of Faith Ali Shah on the one
side, and the inscribing this name re-
duced the value of the diamond, so at
least said Yahya Khan. 1t is a mon
strous diamond, but not very brilliant.
The Persians say that the Sea of
Light and the Mountain of Light
were jewels in the sword of Afrusiab,
who lived 5000 years B. @. Rustum
took them from Afrusiab, and they con-
tinued in the crown of Persia till they
we're carried away by Timour, from
whom they descended to Mohammed
Shah, King of Delhi, and Nadir brought
item from India; but when he was slain
Shah Abdalli carried off the
Koh-i-Noor, which descended to Shah
5huja, and was taken from him by
Runiet Singh. The Darya Nor re-
ldlutu III eISla Will tn6 BTtdtcT part
Of the other gems that Nadir brought
from India.
"Among the rings is one in which is
set The famous Pitt diamond sent by
George ~. to Faith Ali Shah. Another
very large diamond is the Tail Hama.
Or the diadem of the Phoenix. 1t
seemed as big as the top of a mans
thumb. There is also the finest tur-
luoise in the world, three or four
inches long, and without flaw, and a
smaller one of unique beauty three
quarters of an inch broad. The color
was lovely, and almost as refreshing to
.he eye as Persian poets pretend. There
are also many sapphires as large as
and rubies and pearls the size
1f nuts;and am certain that counted
nearly a hundred emeralds from half an
nch square to an inch and three quar-
,ers long and an inch broad. In the
sword scabbard, which is covered with
there is not single stone
,maller than the nail of mans little
inger. Lastly, there is an emerald as
arge as a walnut, covered with the
names of the Kings who had possessed
.