Connecticut western news., 1884-11-12
GEMS OF THE ORIENT.
Three Bushels Of Diamonds Found Inside
 an Idol.

The history of gems in the East is the history Of the governing princes, for SO often has the course of history in the Orient been affected by intrigues about precious stones that they assume a state importance The traditional diamond in the East is the Great Mogul. The original weight of this stone was 7s7 carats, but by cutting, it was reduced to 279 carats. The stone disappeared at the last Tartar invasion, when treas ures to the value of S350, 900, 900 were captured by Nadir Shah. It is believed to be at present hidden away in some obscure fortress in Asia Minor, and it may be recovered at some future time. Some idea of the abundance of precious stones in the East may be gained from the fact that when Mahmoud, in the eleventh century cap tured Sumnat, an idol statue was broken open and found to contain three bushels of diamonds, rubies and emeralds. Ala-ud-deen obtained from the Raja of Mahrattas fifty pounds of diamonds and rubies and 175 pounds of pearls. Shah Jehan, the greatest of the Mogul soyer- eigns, left a treasure of incalculable value at his death, throne valued at S30,000, 900 and crown worth sI2, 100000. The throne was the cel- ebrated peacock throne. so called from the images of two peacocks which stood before it, each made of precious stones so matched in color and in position as to resemble the natural colors of the bird. The throne was six feet long and four feet wide, of solid gold and crusted with diamonds, rubies and emeralds. Steps of silver led up 10 it, while A canopy of gold, fringed with pearls, supported by twelve pillars emblazoned with gems, surmounted the whole. On each side was a sacred umbrella made of velvet, embroidered with pearls, the handle be- ing of gold inlaid with diamonds 1t was the most costly work of art ever made. Its only rival was the cerulean throne of the house of Bahmenee in the Nisam. This was built in the seven teenth century, was nine feet long by three feet wide, was made of ebony covered with plates of gold crusted with gems, and was valued at SEQ, 900, 900. A late traveller in the East, Mir. East wick, has recently given a graphic ac. count of the magnihcence of the Persian crown jewels. In the jewel room he found treasures valued at S35, GOO, 900, among them the crown, & mass of diamonds surniounted by ruby as big as a hens egg. The Kings belt is a wonder of barbaric magnidcenoe, weigh iug about twenty pounds and composed of solid mass of diamonds, rubies and emeralds. As Persia is the native land of the turquoise, it is but natural that the finest stone of this description is to be fould in its collection. This royal specimen is four inches long, perfect in color and without a flaw. When the Shah was in Europe, some years ago, he wore variety of diamonds and other precious stones that kept the detectives in a constant fever of fear lest he should be robbed of some of them, for one, even of the smallest, would have been a fortune for half dozen thieves. The buttons of his coat were five in number, and each button was a diamond larger than the Kohinoor, while every part of his clothing seemed to be useful, not as covering for his. body, but AS places to hang diamonds on.