The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-07
MOON OF MOUNTAINS.
The Bloody History of a Famous Jewel 4
the Russian Regalia.

The Bloody History of a Famous Jewel In
tho Russian Rsgaiia.
A famous diamond, with history Of
blood and fraud, is 'the shah" which
forms part of the regalia of the car.
About one hundred and fifty years ago
it belonged to Nadir Shah, military
desperate. who, by his talents and
wickedness. had become ruler of
Persia. After subduing all his rivals
there, he invaded the dominion of the
grand mogul and enriched himself
with money and jewels to the amount
of five hundred million dollars. On his
diamonds, called the Sun of the Sea
and the Moon of Mountains, and these
he worked into his throne.
Afterward conspiracy was formed,
and after terrible struggle, on the
10th of June, 1747. Nadir Shah was muir
dered in his tent and his palace was
pillaged.
At this time an Armenian named
Shafras dwelt, with his two brothers,
in Bassorah; and one day an Afghan
came to him with the Moon of Noun
tains and a sapphire, called the Eye of
Allah. together with hundred other
stones, and offered them for sale at
moderate price. Shafras promised to
buy them, but he had not sufficiently
great sum in his house: so he asked the
Afghan to come on the next day, but
the other, fearing trap. left Bassorah
secretly. and Shafras and his brothers
could not trace his fight.
In years afterward Shafras met the
afghan in Bagdad, and learned that
he had sold the Jewels for sixty-five
thousand plasters and two horses. So
he went to the house of the purchaser,
who was a Jew, and offered him one
hundred and thirty thousand plasters
and four horses for the jewels; but the
jew would not agree 10 it.
On the same night Shafras and his
brothers, who were also in Baydad, en-
tered the Jews house by a strstagem
and murdered him and took his jewels;
and they put his body in sack and
cast it into the river Euphrates.
And on the next day they invited the
Afghan TO a repas., and they put
poison into his drink, so that he died;
and they put his body into a sack and
cast it into the Euphrstes.
And SO there was nobody left to bear
witness to the manner by which the
brothers had obtained the jewels, but
presently they fell into a dispute
among themselves concerning the
division of the booty, and so Shafras
poisoned both his brothers and threw
their bodies into the river. and he fed
to Constan tinople, and from thence %
Holland.
Being now safe in Christian Europe,
the murderer exposed his Jewels for
sale, and offered them 10 many kings
and princes: and at last their fame
Travelled 70 Russia. and Empress
Catherine sent for Shafras and offered
to buy the Noon OF Mountains for
pension of ten thousand rouhles each
year (which is equal TO near nine thou
sand dollars in our money!, together
with title OF nobility: but Shafras
wanted SIX hundred thousand rou bles
for the diamonds.
At this time one of the errpres.' min
listers was Count Panip. cunning man.
He pre- tended 70 tie a friend % Shafras.
and invited him to his bouse: and he
contriyed that the Armenian should
NEE. many rich and prodigzl people,
and the Armenian was thereby drawn
into reckless living. until after time
his money was gone. and be was IN
debted 70 many merchants and trades.
men And Count Panin. learning tha:
he was penniliesS, refused 20 bug the
diamond, for the empress. atsuy price
Then shafrss made ss II 70 leave the
city, but he was prevente<. bv MS
creditors. and tbsy would not L.; him
go. but threatened 10 throw him into
prison
so from being careless and indirer-
ent, concerning the sale OF the dla-
mond. Shafrzs became suppl Kant. and
he sold the dia ssoEad - the EN- press sar
one fsnndrea and fifty thonsa Ed r0a bEes- {
I hen be paid ATS de Dts and vssut assa-.
Ten wears later Ia. esszisszrse Of tn. +
Russian roGrt foana shafras a. Az.r-sk-
han. and bought other jewels from
him. FOR a considerable auoans. and =
title Of mobility vaa conferred upon I
him Subsequently he MARRIED. and
Tired long e conkszi-Ea bic honor. Bat
he had seven daughters and the hns-
hand % one % ti2r1a esy ed be walt.
and power, and gave Fsoisoa 10 hlgzs 50
THAI tise riches !os snies he bad saer5- .
feed 80 many lives brought sorro~ 70
him - lzss, and ae dles!. Detroit free
pr-~ =