Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1901-12-29
The Wonderful IL
II ~ Koh.i.nOOr

j. II ~ Koh-i-nOor !.
| Americans are much interested in the
| recent importation of a wonderful blue
| diamond and speculation is rife as to
! the probable purchaser. The largest
and most valuable diamond in the
world. the Koh-I-Noor. is one of the
crown jewels of Great Britain and will
be worn by Queen Alexandria at the
coronation in June next Besides its
great size, beauty and value. this gem
has had history with which romance
has had something TO do, and seas of
| blood have been shed for its possession.
1t came into the possession OF the Brit
| ish crown as part of the spells of
the conquest of India, and it will
doubtless remain as one of the Eng
| lish royal jewels as long as the empire
shall last, for such jewels are inalien-
able and can only be wrested from Bri-
| tain by force of arms, an event that is
exceedingly improbable Of occurrence.
Where this greatest of diamonds o-i-
ginally came from no one can tell. All
that is authentic regarding il is of COM
paratively recent date. History first
came upon it's trail of blood and rapine
in 1926. when it was in the possession
of Bikermajit. rajah of Gwailor. India
The first written record of its existence
was left by Barber. the founder of the
Mogul empire in Hindustan, who Left
elaborate memoirs. Baber, descend
ant of Tameriane the scourge of Asia.
invaded India from Afghanistan and in
the battle in which Ibraham was de-
feated Bikermajit lost his life. Baber
good Mussulman. that he was. piously
says: "Bikermajit was sent to hell
Baber's son. Humium, surrounded
Bikermajits people in Agra and cap
tured them. together with a large store
of jewels and precious stones
Among those" wrote the great mo-
gull May 4, 1926. was one famous dia-
mond. which had been acquired by Sui
tan Ala-ed-din. 1t is so valuable that
Judge of diamonds valued it at half the
daily expense of the whole world
FAMOUS CENTURIES AGO.
1t will be observed that Barber
speaks of the stone as being already
famous" The Ala ed-din of whom he
makes mention has been identified with
ruler of the Khilji dynasty, which
reigned over q large part of Hindustan
from 1855 to 1921. and there is reason to
believe he took the gem from the rajal
to Malwa. whom he defeated in 1901.
possession of the Malwa family for
generations. possibly as early as Vik-
ramaditya, who reigned 81 Il. c. From
the time of Baber the history OF the
Koh-I-Noor is tolerably authentic.
That Oriental says Bikermajit's peo-
pie gave it to Humaiun of their own
free will. but that statement must be
taken with Oriental allowance Baber
also says that after Hamaiun had
brought it to him he returned it to the
captor, but the son evidently understood
that was only an eastern bluff. When
Baber had conquered a large area In
India he set up his throne in Delhi as
the first mogul emperor and there he
KEEP his treasures. Humaiun did not
forget the great diamond and after
two years of scheminE he succeeded in
stealing it He was detected. however
and forced to make restitution. He lost
the favor of his father, but gained pos
session OF the Koh-I-NooT when he
came to the throne. From him it pass
ed with the sceDter to Akbar and then
to Jehanjir, the greatest of the moguls-
The latter confided the jewel to the
care of his wife, Nur Jehan, Light of
| the World" II was during this reign
that it's existence came to the notice of
Englishmen through the visit of n
British ambassador to the mogul court
PART OF PEACOCK THRONE.
1t was Jehanjir's son, Shah Jehan.
who constructed the marvellous pea
cock throne, rivaling the most extrava-
CANT fancies Of the Arabian Nights.
This magnificent piece of royal furni-
ture stood on six huge legs of solid gold
set thickly with emeralds. rubies and
diamonds. At the back were two life
| WITT
led in precious stones. Between the
| peacocks perched a life sized parrot,
said to have been made from a single
| emerald. Over the throne stretched
gorgeous umbrellas of finest silks.
decked with gems. fringed with ropes
of pearls and supported on twelve pill
| lars OF gold. The browning glory of this
ma gnificence was the eyes of the pea
cocks which were four large diamonds
| One of these is believed to have been
the Kohl Moor and another may have
been the Great Mogu1 diamond.
| Shah Jehan's son. Aurung-zeb. COW
| eted the power and the riches of the
rnoglil and with characteristic orien-
tar cruelty cast his father and mother
into prison, where they remained seven
years. Jehan managed to carry some
| of the jewels into prison, and among
| them was the Koh-I-Noor. After his
| death his wife delivered the jewels to
| her son. Tavernier. French traveller
who visited the court of Auruns-zeb.
said he was afforded n glimpse of the
mogul's gems. among which was n
! great diamond believed to have been
| the Kohl Moor. Aurung-zeb wore the
| stone in his durham and handed ii
| down to Shah Alum. This monarch and
| his two SUCCESSORS were murdered and
the moguI empire was fast going to
pieces.
FELL INTO ENGLIGH HANDS.