The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-08-05
HISTORICAL DIAMONDS.

All the great historical diamonds of the
world owns an Indian origin. The Rajat
OF Mattan's great jewel was, it is true, found
In Borneo, but its existence has hitherto
been passed in Oriental seclusion BETTING
Its mystical character, not amid the glare
and hustle of Western politics. The "Bra-
ganza" has continued since 1741, when il
| was discovered in Brazilian mine, in the
possession of the Portuguese Crown, and is
still as jealously guarded from vulgar in
spection as beauty of the harem. This
suspicious privacy, together with its extra
ordinary weight of 1,6SO carats, induces a
general belief that the stone is not dia-
mond, but a white topaz. Its value, if
genuine, would amount, according to
the usual mode of calculation, to the
fabulous sum of f5S, $50, OOO As far
as mere size is concerned, the "Stewart."
from the South African diggings, is
entitled to foremost place among cele-
brated diamonds; but the jewels with
the human interest of story attaching to
them-the ''Orloff," the 20 Florentine," the
Regent, the "Koh-i-noor, I" the SO Sancy"
hail from the banks of the Kistna, or the
mines of Raolconda or Bundelcund. Two
of these, the Koh-i-noor and the Orlcff,
have singularly shared the vicissitudes of
successive dynasties, and by their present
position among the Crown jewels-the one
of England and the other of Russia-seem
to symbolic the division of the sceptre of
ha CT hafx
These twin stones are believed to be the
fragments of a mighty crystal of 793 carats,
of which the tradition has been preserved
by Tavernier, French jeweler, who made
a professional tour i'll the East in the time
of the Grand Monarque. Their earliest his
tory is as may readily be imagined, obscure
Conjecture, based upon their shape and
size, makes them glitter for ages as the eyes
of some monstrous idol in Brahminical
temple. History meets the capture of Agra
and the overthrow of the native Prince of
Golconda, when they fell by separate capri
ces of fortune into the hands of the con-
quering Mogul dynasty. Baber exulted in
the possession of the Koh-i-noor, and in his
"reminiscences estimates its value as equal to
that of half the daily sustenance of the enc
tire world. The same stone was seen by
Tavernier in the Treasury of Aurungzebe,
and its companion was shortly afterward ex-
torted by that undutiful son from the pos
session of his captive father, Shah Jehan.
They next appear as the spoil of Nadir
Shah, in 1479, and were in all likelihood
seen by Pallas shining side by side upon the
.hrone of the Persian conqueror, with the
tiles respectively of the Mountain 8. and
he "Sea of Light" After his assassination
n 1749 their stories divide. The ''Derya-
-norr was stolen by French soldier, and,
~ the Intervention of an Armenian named |
Shafras, reached the Amsterdam market,
where it was purchased by Count Orloff for |
he Empress Catherine II. The Kohl |
loor " was carried off by Ahmed Shah and, |
lnder stress of prolonged persecution, was
urrendered by his unhappy descendant,
'hah Soojah, to the greed of Runjeet Singh.
IN attempt was made. on the plea of break
ng the spell of misfortune which was sup
'osed to accompany the jewel, to induce the
ikh chieftain to bequeath it on his death
ed to the Temple of Juggernant; he was,
owever, obdurate, and the famous " Noun
ain of Light " illumined the Treasury of
.ahore until, after the British conquest of
'unjaub, it was formally presented by Lord
to the Queen of England. It
eight was then 1856 carats, but having been
ut after the Indian manner, with view to
ne preservation of its size rather than to
ne display of its lustre, it was less effective
nan many counterfeit gem. 1t was ac-
ordingly recut as regular brilliant by
lie best artist Amsterdam could produce, at
sacrifice of 80 carats, and cost of fs, 600,
ut, to the eye of connoisseur, its form,
ven still, leaves much to be desired
raser's Magazine.