Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-06-26
Historical nIamona..

All the great historical diamonds OF the world
own an Indian origin. The Ra1ah of Mattan's
great jewel. was, 1t Is true, found in BOrneo
but its existence has hitherto been passed In the
oriental seclusion befittfng its mystical charac-
ter, not amid the glare and hustle of the west
since 1741, when it was discovered in Brazilian
mine, In the possession OF the Portuguese
Crown, and is still as jealousy guarded from
T Tqigas INSPECTION as beauty OF the harem.
traord1nary weight OF 1850 carats, induces a
general belief that the stone is not diamond,
out white topaz: Its value. If genuine, would
amount, according to the usual mode OF
calculation, to the fabulous sum OF c5s. $3.50, 0Oo
As far as mere size Is concerned the Stewart, -
from the South African dtggtngs, is entitled to
a foremost place among celebrated diamonds;
but the jewels with the human interest OF a
story attaching to them-the "Orloff," the
Florentine," the Is Regent, the Koh.t-noor, ~
IA, or the mines Of Roalconda or Bundelcund.
Two OF these, the Kohl moor and the Orion,
have slngularly shared the vicissituie5 of success
siVe dynasties, and by their present position
among the Crown tewelS-the one of England
and the other OF Russia-seem to symb 1ltze
the division of the sceptre OF the east be-
Ws sdass sTo giat These
fragments OF mighty crystal Of 1913 carats. OF
which the tradition has been preserved by Tav-
ernier, French jeweler, who made profes
Monarque. Their earliest history 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 Brahmlnical temple. History meets th ,
capture of Agra and the overthrow OF the ma
tive Prince or GOlconda, when they fell by sepa
rate capr1ceS OF fortune into the hands Of the
c0nquerlng MOgul dynasty. Baber eXulted in
the possession OF the KOh-i-noor. and In his
"reminiscences estimates its value as equal to
that OF hall the daily sustenance of the entire
world The same stone was seen by Tavernier
In the treasury OF AurungZebe. and its COM
pan1on was shortly afterward eXtorted b.
that undutlful son from the possession of his
captive father, Shah Jehan. They next appear
as the spoil of Nadir Shah, 10 1879 and We're in
all likelihood seen by Pallas shining side by
side upon the throne Of the Persian conqueror,
with the titles respectively OF the Mountain
and the Sea Of Light" After his assassination.
In 1749, their stories divide. The "Derya-i-norr'
was stolen by French soldier, and, by the il
tervention OF an Armenian named Shafras,
reached the Amsterdam market, where it was
purchased by Count Qrlof for the Empress
Catherine II. The ''hoh-i-noorn was carried off
oy Ahmed Shah, and under stress Of prolonged
persecution, was surrendered By his unhappy
descendant, Shah SOOjah, to the greed of Run]eet
Singh. At attempt was made, On the plea OF
breaking the spell OF misfortune which was sup
posed TO accompany the jewel, to induce Sikh
chieftain to bequeath it on his death bed to the
Temple OF Juggernaut he was, however OBJ
durate. and the famous mountain of Light
illumined the Treasury OF Lahore until, after
the British conquest OF the Punjaub, 1t was for
mally presented by Lord Dalhousle to the Queen
OF England. It's weight was then lS6 carats. but
having been cut after the Indian manner, with
view to the preservation of its size rather
than to the display OF It's lustre, it was less
ehectlVe than many acounterfeit gem. 1t was
accordingly recut as regular brilliant" by
the best artist Amsterdam could produce. at a
sacrifice OF 50 carats, and cost OF 6, 900: but
to the eye OF connoisseur, its form, even STILL
leaves much to be deSired.-FfGSer's MaqQzi,te