The times., 1901-05-05
some HISTORIC DIAMONDS
Precious Stones That Have Led TO
AtrOciOus Grimes.

Murder and Robbery Committed TO
Gain Possession of Gems Of Enor-
mons value, or Believed to Con
tain Power for Good or Evil.
The diamond. Il simple stone of petri-
fed carbon, has ever exCrted "A marvellous
influence on man and has for ages urged
him on to deeds of violence and blood
shed in his lust for its possession. India
appears to have been the "cradie of the
diamond" in the earlier days. Here were
found most of the largest historical gems
and here has been the scene Of the great
est carnage which ever a diamond in
spired Wars have been waged on the one
side for its possession, and on the other
for its defence.
Among the ancient rdjahs the diamond
was surrounded with occult power for
good or evil mostly evil, as it has ever
turned out. The Oriental mind having
ever been in the faith stage as opposed
10 The stage Of reason. is one especially
conditioned to endow objects which in
terest it with u halo of mysticism. No
one thing has appealed to this side OF the
Oriental mind rs the diamond. Unfor-
tunately. however, this gem has only ap-
peaied TO the vanity side Of human nature.
Dynasties were believed to be dependent
upon the possession of the diamond
which. if lost by accident. theft. or war.
meant the dissolution and ruin of the
ruling house. For ). 600 years this struggle
to obtain the jewel and to keep it has
been characterized by robbery treachery,
and murder. Even today two Republics
together with the lives and liberties of
their people. have been sacrificed for the
woTld-oid lust for the diamond, a-1 the
South African war, inspired by q mere
handful Of Euglishmen. has plunged a
great nation into "A weary war for this
well-named gem of fate"
Civilized or semi-ciyiliZed peoples seem
to be affected in the same murderous way
by this gem.
Some of the diamonds which have been
the cause Of historic wars and bloodshed
are still in existence.
THE KoH-I-N0OR DIAMOND
No diamond. probably. has had a more
remarkable history. or has figured more
largely in the affairs of nations and indi-
viduals, than the Koh-i-noor. or Mound
Of Light as the name implies. Tradition
assigns it an exceedingly great antiquity.
having been found in the Godavery River,
southern India. between 40l3 and 5000
years ago, previous 20 the Indian war It
was worn by one Of the chiefs who fell in
known diamond in the world.
II came into the possession Of the fam
lily Of one Of the ancient native princes, /
the Raiah Of Malwar. and was trans
mitted TO his successors through many
generations, until IL passed into the hands
Of the MOhammedan Conquerors of India
at the beginning of the fourteenth cen
tury. Ii constituted one of the most val
liable gems Of the imperial treasury of
Delhi until il was carried on by Nadir
h
ter the assassination of Nadir this gem
became the property Of the Afghan mon
archs and from them was transferred to
Runjeet Singh, the Sikh hero Of the Pun
laub, who had il set in a bracelet, and
just before his death in 1893 he was ad-
vised to devote it to Juggernaut. but the
act was not consummated and it was left
among his other treasures.
The story is told that NadiT Shah pos
sessed himself Of the diamond by artifice.
He believed that il was concealed in the
turban Of the dethroned Emperor since
IL could not be found in the treasury at
Delhi, and on the pretext Of restoring the
conquered ruler to his dominions. which
the WHY Persian made the occasion of a
grand display, he artfully proposed. as
a mark of friendship. 10 exchange tur-
bans with his imperial guest. an act of
courtesy the prisoner did not deem ii
polite TO refuse, and the famous diamond
came into the hands of the conqueror.
who. on beholdins il, exclaimed, 'Koh-i-
moor"
On the fall Of Nadir Shah's extensive
empire, Ahmed Shah. the Afghan chief.
who established a new dynasty became
the pOSsessOr of this ill-Omened treasure.
Ine last OF MS line, Shah SouJah, kept
this cherished treasure during his impTis-
oumenf and exile, until Runjeet Singh
compelled him 10 sell ii for 10000 rupees.
Alter the subjugation OF the Sikhs by the
English and the annexation Of the Pun
jaub 10 British India, IN 1919 the civil
authorities took possession of the treas
ury at Lahore. under the stipulation that
p 8 no
confiscated to the East India Company,
and that the hoh-i-nOOr should be pre-
seuted to the Queen Of England. Thus
the tallsman OF Indian sway passed from
the land Of its birth TO the royal treas
ury of Windsor Castle
When first imported into England it was
the largest diamond in Europe except
the Orion, but at the present time it is
surpassed by several others. It's original
weight was sS3 caratS uncut The cutting
of this diamond was performed IN Lon
don by steam power. under the direction
OF artists from Amsterdam, and Occu-
pied thirty-eight days. at a cost Of So
0)1. II Is cut in the form Of brilliant
which involved great waste Of material.
Though the beauty Of the gem may have
been enhanced by this operation which
is matter Of doubt, yet. in the opinion
OF many, its value as an historical m0nu-
ment has been greatly diminished.
THE GREAT MOCUL.
The diamond known as the Great Mo
discovered. It was found in the mines
OF Gani or Coulour in l5JJ, and came into
the possession Of the Vizier Of the King
OF GOlc0uda, who had amassed great
wadlth ~ farming the diamonds Becom-
ing the object OF jealousy to his royal
master, the Minister escaped from Court. /
taking with him all his treasures. and /
came 10 the capital Of Aurungzeeb. one 1
OF the most celebrated of all the Mo
gul rulers Here the fugitive Vizier be-
came tavorite by his muni6cent pres
ents TO the Emperor. including this fam
Gus diamond, which was from its imper-
ial owner. called the Great Mogul. 80 It's
weight at that time was 78Ilz carats
but az il was badly fiaWed il was decided
10 have u cut, an operation performed by
an unskIllful Venetian aDidafy named
BOrgia. who reduced its weight nearly
half-egg and covered with facets like a
rose diamond. The Emperor was SO Of
Tended at the great waste Of the stone
that he not only refused 10 pay the oper-
atOr his stipulated price, but imposed a
fine Of l0,ey rupees for damages. The un-
fortunate Venetian, who evidently under
stood neither his business Eor the temper
Of despotlc princes. was glad to escape /
with has life. The weight Of this diamond
has been differently estimates at go /
lai l-3. and 9SI1z carats before cutting; 219 !
~, auQaSS9 CaratS after cutting II was
Of the first water and valued at 81 $50 600
Fhe diamond IS connected ia history 4
with some OF the wars and revolutions in I!
India and during the Persian Invasion (
was lost sight Of. which afforded some &
ground for the general opinion that il
now belongs to the Persian Crown. IL is
however. more than likely the Great Mo 1
gUI has been lost. and If go II may come I
to light by some unexpected event unless I