Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-01-14
Jewels of the Orient.

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
state of Importance. The traditional
diamond in the East is the Great Mo-
gul. The original weight of this stone
was 7S1 carats, but by cutting it was
reduced to 297 carats. The stone dis
appeared at the last Tartar invasion,
when treasures to the value of $780,
900, 900 were captured by Nadir Shah.
1t 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 pre-.
ciOus stones in the East may be gained
from the fact that when Mahmoud, in
the eleventh century, captured Sumnat,
an idol statue was broken open and
found TO contain three bushels of dia-
mOnds, rubies and emeralds. Ala-ud-
deem obtained from the Rajah of NAH
rattas fifty pounds of diamonds and ru-
bies and 175 pounds of pearls. Shah
Jehan, the greatest of the Mogul SOW
ereignS, left treasure of incalculable
value at his death. a throne valued at
S3O, 900, 900 and crown worth Sl2,-
100000 The throne was the celebrated
peacock throne, so called from the i'm
ages of two peacocks which stood be-
fore it, each made of precious stones so
matched in color and position as to re-
semble 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 to it, while can
Opy of gold, fringed with pearls, sup
ported by twelve pillars emblazoned
with gems, surmounted the whole. On
each side was a sacred umbrella made
of velvet, embroidered with pearls, the
handle of gold being inlaid with dia-
monds. 1t was the most costly work of
art ever made. Its only rival was the
cerulean throne of the house of Bah
menee, in the Nizam. This was built
in the Seventeenth 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
$50, ,000,0 600.
y late traveller gives an account OF
the magnifcence of the Persian crown !
jewels. In the jewel room he found |
treasures valued at S35, 900, 900 among |
them the crown, mass of diamonds |
surmounted by ruby as big as hens |
egg. The Kings belt is wonder of |
barbaric magnificence, weighing about !
twenty pounds and composed of solid /
mass Of diamonds. rubies and emeralds. :
As Persia is the native land of the tur-.
quoise, it is but natural that the finest !
stone of this description is to be found |
in its collection. This royal specimen
is four inches long, perfect In color, and
without flaw. When the Shah was
in Europe, some years ago, he wore a
variety of diamonds and other precious
stones that he kept the detec ives in
constant fever of fear lest he should be
robbed of some of them, for one, even
of the smallest, would have been for
tune for half-dozen thieves. The but
tons of his coat were five In number,
and each button was diamond larger
than the Kohinoor, while every part of
his clothing seemed to be useful, not as
a covering for his body, but rs places tS
hang diamonds on.