The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-06-26
The Royal Jewels Of Persia.


Italian, and n Russian lady to see the
Shah's jewels, which are certainly the
greatest sight in their way that the world
can show. We presented ourselves at
the palace and were received by Yahya
Khan, who took us out of the second
and inner great court of the palace into
a small quadrangle, not far from the
sacred precincts of the harem. We then
went up steep staircase to a small
room, about 20 feet by IA, where jewels
to the valne Of six or seven millions were
laid out on carpets at the far end of the
room. Near the jewels. on a chair, sat
the Mustauful MamaIik. or Persian
Chancellor of the Exchequer, and being
a Salyid, wore the sacred color.
In such show of gems as seemed to
realize the wonders of Alsddin's lamp,
the eye was too much dazzled and the
memory too confused for description TO
be possible But / remember that at the
back of all was the Kaiaman crown, and
on either side Of it two Persian lamb
skin caps, adorned with splendid aigrct-
tes of diamonds. The crown itself was
shaped like Aower-pot, with the small
end opened and the other closed. On the
top of the crown
WAS AN UNCUT RUBY,
apparently without flaw, as large as a
hens egg. In front Of the crown were
dresses covered with diamonds and
pearls; trays with necklaces of pearls;
rubies, and emeralds, and some hundreds
of diamonds, ruby, and turquoise rings.
In front of these again were gaubtlets
and belts covered with rubies and dia-
monds; and. conspicuous among them,
the Kaiaman belt, about foot deep,
weighing, perhaps, about eighteen
pounds, and one complete mass ofpearls
diamonds, cmeralds, and rubies. Still
nearer to it stood a drinking bowl, CON-
pletely studded with enormous jewels
a tray full OF foreign orders set in bril-.
liants, and in front of all lay dozen
swords which are worth quarter of q
million each. Along with these were
epaulets covered with diamonds, and
armlets SO contrived that the brillianti
revolved and kept up continuous scin'
tillation.
1t was difficult among so many to sin
gle ont particular gems. Perhaps, how
ever, the first place ought to be assigned
to the famous "Darya-i-Nor,,. or "Sea o
light"
THE SISTER DIAMOND
to our Punjab trophy, the "Koh-i-Nor,
or "Monntain of Light" 1t is an incl
and half long, an inch broad, and three
quarters of an inch thick. 1t has tn
name Of Faith Ali Shah one side, and tn
inscribing of this name reduced the val
ne of the diamond-so at least salt
Yahya Kahn. II is a monstrous dia
mond, but not very brilliant. The Per
sia say that the "Sea Of Light" and til
"Mountain of Light" we're jewels in tn
sword of Afrusiab, who lived 5000 year
3. c. Rustum took them from Afrusial
and they continued in the crown of PEI
sia till they were carried away by III
mour, from whom they descended {
Mohammed Shah, King of Delhi, an
Nadir brought them from India; bu
when he was slain Ahmed Shah Abdal
carried off the Koh-i-Nor, which d.
scended to Shah Shuja, and was take
from him by Runjet Singh. The DaTys
Nor remained in Persia with the create
part ofthe other gems that Nadir brougf
from India.
Among the rings is one in which Is 81
the famous Pitt diamoud, sent by Georl
j w to Faith Ali Shah. Another veI
large diamond is the Taji Hama, or Il
Diadem Of the Phenix. II seemed as b
as the top Of mans thumb. There
also the finest turquoise in the worl
about three or four inches long, m
without a flaw, and a smaller one
unique beauty, three-quarters Of an inc
long, and three-eighths Of an inch broa
The color was lovely, and almost as r
freshing to the eye az the Persian poe
pretend. There are also many sapphir
; as large as marbles, and rubies al
pearls the size of nuts; and am certa
that counted nearly a hundred eme
J aids from half an inch square to an in'
and three-quarters long and an in
broad. In the sword scabbArd, which
! covered with diamonds, there is not, p'
e haps, a single stone smaller than q
nail Of a mans little finger. Last
there IL an emerald as large as walni
, covered with the names Of the kin
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