Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-04
JEWELS OWNED BY THE SHAH.
Enormous In Quantity. and Some OF
Them Enormous In Size.


The jewels OF the late Shah are the
greatest sight in their way that the
world can show. and are worth several
millions. The Kaianan crown is shaped
Ike a fower-pot. with the small end open,
and the other closed. having at the top
an uncut flawless ruby as big as a 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 handsomest being the Kai-
anian belt about a foot deep weighing
eighteen pounds one dazzling mass OF
diamonds, pearls, emeralds, and rubies.
Drinking bowls studded with jewels.
swords. one or two Of which are worth
a quarter Of a million each; epaulettes OF
diamonds, and armlets so contrived that
the briliants revolve and keep up an
ever-changing scintillation, seems to re-
alize the wonders revealed by Alad-
din's lamp I'm the cave. There are dresses
embroidered thickly with jewels; trays
Of pearl. ruby. and emerald necklaces,
and hundreds OF diamond, ruby, and tur-
quoise rings.
The first place among the gems belongs
to the famous Darya-i-Nur, or Sea OF
Light, sister diamond TO our Punjab
trophy Kuh-i-Nur. II is 11-2 inches
long, inch broad. and 3-S OF an inch
thick. The inscription Of Faith All
Shah's name on one side reduced the
value Of the stone incalculaby. As
Yahya Khan said: "Deux millionsl mails,
deux millions de quoi--de francs, de pias-
tres, que sais-jaY IL Is not very bril-
liant. but il has a wondrous history. The
Persians say that the Sea OF Light and
the Mountain OF Light were Jewels Ia
the sword of Afrasiab who lived 1900
years Il. c. Rustem took them from
Afrasiab and they continued in the
crown of Persia till they were carried
away by Timur. from whom they de-
seconded 10 Muhammad Shah. King Of
Delhi, and were brought by Nadair
from India. When he was slain. Ahmed
Shah Abdalli carried off the Kuh-i-Nur
which descended TO Shah Shuja. and was
taken from him by Ranjit Singh; but the
Darya-i-Nur remained in Persia
Among the rings Is one I'm which is set
the famous Pitt diamond. sent by George
". TO Faith Ali Shah. Sir H. Sutherland
used 10 tell the story OF the acceptance OF
this gift. \ Persian nobleman had been
sent from Teheran TO Sir H. Jones TO stop
him from going there. the French inhu-
ence being all-pOwerful at that time. Sir
Hartford Jones argued In vain with the
Persian Khan, who remained unimpress-
ed; and finally he said. "Well. IL 1t must
be so, / will return 10 my country and
give up the hope Of making my counte-
nance while I'm the presence OF the Shah.
But this must return 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 condescend-
Ing kindness increased This alters the
matter. l viii dispatch a message to the
notwithstanding threshold OF the Asy-
lum OF the World. | swear by your head
you will be received with all honor Ma
shallah! 1t is not every one that has dia-
monds like the lnglis."
The result was that Sir Hartford entered
Teheran by one gate as General Gardanne
made a hasty and FASTENED exit by the
other. Another enormous diamond is the
Tai-i-Huma. or Diadem OF the Phoenix. as
big as the top OF a mans thumb. There
are sapphires as big as marbles. and many
rubies and pearls the size OF nuts, and
more than a hundred emeralds from half
an inch square 10 an inch and three quar-
tiers long and an inch broad. Besides the
largest turquoise In the world. about four
inches long; there Is another OF unique
beauty, perfect I'm color. three quarters OF
an inch long. and three eighths OF an inch
broad.
In the sword scabbard. which Is covered
with diamonds, there is not single stone
smaller than the nail Of mans little
finger. Lastly there is an emerald the size
of a walnut, covered with the names OF
Kings who have possessed 1t.