The Portland daily press., 1896-06-02
JEWELS OWNED BY THE SHAH.
Enormous in Quantity, and Some of Them
Enormous in Size,
(From the Pail Mall Gazette.)

The jewels of the late Shah are the
greatest sight in their way that the
world can show, and are worth several
millions. The Kaianian crown is shaped
like flower pot with the small end open
and the other closed, having at the top
an uncut fawless ruby as big as hens
egg. Two Persian lambskin caps are
adorned with splendid aigrettes of dia-
monds, and there are gauntlets and belts
innumerable covered with pearls and dia-
monds, the handsomsst being the
Kaianian belt, about a foot deep, weigh
ing eighteen pounds, one dazzling mass
of diamonds, pearls, emeralds and ru-
bics. Drinking bowls studded with jew
els; swords, one or two Of which are
worth quarter of million each: epau-
lettes of diamonds, and armlets SO con-
trived that the brilliants reyolye and keep
up an ever changing scintillation, seems
to realize this wonders revealed by Alad-
din's lamp IN the cave. There are dres-
ses embroidered thickly with jewels;
trays OF pearl, ruby and emerald neck
laces, and hundreds of diamond, ruby
and turquoise rings.
The first place among the gems belongs
to the famous Darya-i-Nur, or Sea OF
Light, sister diamond to our PAnjab
trophy, Kur-i-Nor. 1t is an inch and q
half long, an inch broad and three
eigths of an inch thick. The inscrip-
zion OF Faith Ali Shah's name on ono side
raduced the value of the stone incalcul-
ably. As Yahya Khan said: '"Deux
millions mais, deux millions de quot
de francs de piastres, que sais-Je" 1t Is
not very brilliant, but it has W ondrous
history. The Persians say that the Sea
of Light and the Mountain of Light were
jewels in the sword of Afrasiab. who
from Afrasiab, and they continued in
the crown of Persia till they were carried
away by Timur, from whom they de.
seconded to Muhammad Shah, King of
Delhi, and were brought by Nadiar from
India. When he was slain, Ahmed Shah
AbdaIli carried off the Kuh-i.Nnr, which
descended to Shah Shuja, and was taken
Darya-i-Nur remained in Persia.
Among the rings is one in " ioh is set
the famous Pitt diamond, sent by George
Nv. to Faith Ali Shah. Sir II. Suther-
land used tic tell the story of the accep-
taRcs of this gift. A Persian nobleman
had been sent from Teheran to Sir H.
Jones to stop him from going there, the
W
that time. Sir Hartford Jones argued 10
vain with the Persian Khan, who re-
manned unimpressed; and finally he said,
Well, ii it must be so. I will return to
my country and give up the hope Of
making my oountenance while in the
presence of the Shah. But this must re-
turn with me-" and he drew the ring
from his waistcoat pocket.
The Khan was breathless with pleased
surprise for a moment then shouted,
Stop, stop! Elchi; may your condo
scending kindness increase! This alters
the matter. I will dispatoh message to
the heaven resembling threshold of the
Asylum of the World ! swear by your
head you Will he received with all honor.
Mashallsh! 1t is not everyone that has
diamonds like the Inglis."
The result was that Sir Hartford en-
tered Teheran by one gate as Gen
Gardanne made hasty and .hastened exi
by the other. Another enormous dia
Jnond is the Taj-i-H uma, or Diadem O
the Phoenix, as big as the top of mani
thumb. There are sapphires as big al
marbles, and many rubies and peals tn,
size of nuts, and more than a hundred
emeraIds from half an inch square to OIL
inch and three-quarters long and an incl
broad. Besides the largest turquoise il
the world, about cur inches long. Their
is another of unique beauty, perfect il
color, three-quarters of an inch long, an(
three-eighths of an inch broad.
In the sword scabbard, which is coyere
with diamonds, there is not q single
stone smaller than the nail of a mans
little finger. Lastly there is an emerald
the size of walnut, covered with th
names of Kings who have possessed 1t.