The times., 1901-05-05


at Landak, on the western coast of Bor
neo, during the last century. 1t is egg
shaped. of the pureSt water, and weighs
3Sf CaratS- Cutting would probably re-
duce it below the Orloff AS its true char
acter has never been fully established It's
large size awakeuS suspicion of its gen.
uineness. but since its present owner is
the Rajah of Matan, there is little proba-
biiity that il viii ever be proved beyond
a doubt 1t has remained in the ruling
family during four generations, and is re-
garded as a kind of tutelary deity, with
miraculous healing powers. The Dutch
Government negotiated for its purchase.
offering the RaJah two gunbcats, with al
their stores ana equipments. ana $-0V'Vo0
in money, nut the owner could not be IN
duced to part with it on any terms from
the belief that the perpCtuity and success
Of his line depended upon his retaining
possession Of this gem. II is said to have
been the cause Of a destructive war dur
ing some period OF its history.
THE GREAT ORLoFF DIAMOND.
The Orlon diamond is a most celebrat-
ed gem. 1t has it's tales of romance, in
trigue. and crime, its remarkable history
and complicating biographers; which place
it alongside of the Koh-i-noor for the dra-
matte, while for its size and beauty it
holds a first rank among European dia-
mOndS- The history of the Orion has so
many different versions that il Is extreme
~ difficult, If not impossible, To decide
which is authentic. especially as its career
has frequently been merged IN that OF the
Great MOgul and also in a Persian dla-
mond called the Moon of the Noun
tainSI There is no doubt that 1t is an
Indian gem, that it found its way 20 Hol-
land. thence to Russia, where it was
placed in the imperial sceptre and IS con
sidered the most remarkable diamond In
the Russian regalia, and one OF the most
famous in Europe; but in relation to Its
romantic history before it became the
property Of the Crown, the records d1-
verge. 1t was purchased at Amsterdam Dy
Prince OFloff, whose name il bears, for
Catherine II, according to one historian.
but, according to others it has more de-
Nious and adventurous career. having
once constituted one of the eyes Of a ia
nous Indian idol from which it was plum
uered by French deSerter and sold to
an English sea captain. 1t is alleged that
from the latter it passed to a London
sale TO the Empress of Russia. but Cath
crime declining to purchase the diamond
II was bought by Prince Orloff for $3.50, 0o0
and a life annuity worth 500 900 and pre-
sented as gift to his sovereign.
Another conjecture about it's early his
tory Is that ii formed one of the trophies
brought away from Delhi by Nadr Shah,
but was lost sight of for a time during
the fierce struggles which ensued on the
death Of Nadir 1t was recovered and sold
to an Armenian by one of the Afghan
generals, ana through the Armenian il
reached the Russian treasury. Its course
up to that event was marked by decep-
tion, theft and murder. 1t is said the
original name given by the Persians was
Koh-i-Tur. which has been translated
Mount Sinai, and that, with the Koh
i-noor. it constituted the eyes of the bird
in the famous Peacock Throne.
The Oriof is about the size of pig
con egg OF 4 yellowish tint, with a
weight Of 1888 carats.
THE AUSTRIAN YELLOW DIAMOND.
The Austrian yellow diamond is also
IL Of
and "FIorentine Brilliant" The identity
and history of this precious stone has
been the foundation of much controversy,
which has not been settled to the salts
faction of all. 1t has its tale of woe, II,
as is sometimes said, il once belonged TO
Charles the Bold, and was lost, together
with his other Jewels. on the disastrous
field Of Grandson. 1t was found by
Swiss soldier, who. after the conflict, lg-
norant OF it's real value, sold IL to a priest
for form, and from him it passed to
a GenoeSe merchant, who disposed OF II
to the Grand Duke of Tuscany. SubSe-
Quently the jewel came into the posses
sion of Pope Julius II, one of the Medlci
family. and by him was presented to the
Austrian Crown in the reign Of Maria
Theresa The Austrian is of "A decided
yellow tint and ranks next 10 the Orion
for large cut diamonds found in Europe;
II is a double rose. faceted all over, and
weighs 1891 carats. Different estimates
represent its value from S2Oo,oo0 to $780,
THE GREAT SANCY.
The great Sancy diamond has been very
called the sphinx among
diamonds It's history is involved in be-
wildering contradictions, which it is i'm
possible to unravel with only the glim-
mering light which illumines its record.
1t appears and disappears in the most
manner for d period OF four
centuries. and has been the subject of
more conflicting statements than any 9TH
er or perhaps all other diamonds known
to literature or science. There Is no way
Of recOnciling these contradictions but by
admitting there was more than one dla-
mond called Sancy. Tradition credits this
gem TO Charles the Bold, Its frSt Euro
pean owner, which. with the Austrian
yellow, was lost on the day of his memor-
able defeat
The diamond was named after the Bar
on de Sancy, at one time Ambassador of
Henry " of France to the Court OF
Queen Elizabeth. The Baron de Sancy, 1t
is said. was the owner Of two large dia-
monds, one Of which was the great Saucy.
Various other accounts are given of the
history Of this stone. but all are conflict
ing and nothing definite is known, except
that it exists. The weight of this gem is
hfty-fOur caFats, Indian cut. 1t is now
owned in India.
THE PITT OR REGENT
The Pitt or Regent diamond, before cut
ting, ranked next TO the Great Mogul in
size, weighing 40 carats. 1t was found in
the Indian mines at PuteaI, in 170l by
slave, who concealed the discovery, and
fled with il TO the coast, but only to meet
a tragic end. After being decoyed on
board an English vessel he was robbed
and thrown overheard. The captain who
committed the double crime sold the dia-
mond for the paltry sum Of s., ,0O0 spent
his dishonest gains in dissipation and
closed his career by hanging himself 1t
was subsequently bought by Thomas
Pitt Governor Of Fort George, Madras |
and grandfather Of the celebrated Viii
lam Pitt, for sum variously estimated
rom $4,000 TO $50, 90
The diamond was cut in London by
hand as brilliant, weighing 1850 ca |
rats as Varlously estimated. at cost of |
,zo,OWytD. The value OF the fragments
have been estimated from seventeen to |
forty thousand dollars. AS the diamond
was not purchased by the English Crown /
L was sold 10 the Regent Of France in |
az whence the name Regent for S675 600 /
This was considered much below its real |
value 1t was subsequently valued at 81 |
igJ.eJ0
In the robbery Of the Garde Meuble. the |
Regent was stolen, but recovered by a |
co communication from one OF the party of |
thieves revealing the spot where IL was /
The reason given for it's sur
render was that the gem was so well |
known that it would not be safe TO offer il !
for sale.
The Regent II has been said, laid the |
of Napoleon's career. since by |
lledging II 10 the Dutch Government he !
obtained funds for prosecuting his mill |
-ary operations and for the establishment |
Jf his power. II was subsequently re-
deemed. ana after he became Emperor |
adorned his sword of state 1t is re- |
markaDle coincidence in the history of |
his diamond that il should have been |
connected with the fortunes Of two emf
AZ tom ar mon f.4rs8