The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-01-06
THE KOHINOOR
ABALEFUL GEM.
Murder and RapinG Always
In Its Wake.
ILL-LUCK FOR ALL IT'S OWNERS
Empires Lost Because Of the Posses
sion of the Famous StOne-RoyaI
Families At DagEer's Point-Diu-
mond Now to Re Set in AIe1undra's
Crown for Her Coronation.

1t is said that Queen Alexandra is &c
wear the famous Eohino0r diamond at the
forthcoming ceremony Of the coronation.
II is TO be hoped that the baneful power
attributed TO The gem by Indian tradition.
I which appears amply exemplifcd in its
tragic history, vHl not be visited upon
| the fair coEsort Of Edward VII.
For thousand years the story OF the
kohinOor has been "a tragic romance. but
It's ownership was never the less coveted
because il brought with IL sure mfsfor-
tune 20 the Wcaror. Perhaps its mystic
influence Tor evil vas bestowed on il by
karlshna when the Wild Delhi chief
] wrested it from the god who. accordru-
to legend, was The original u8ssees5r.
IL passed from owner to owner. always
by theft. never by heritage, uatu. in 1876.
II was meL- toned ia the chronicles OF the
! Empire Of the Grest AloguI, and here IT'S
/ authentic history commences.
In that year B0ber. the founder Of the
empire, invaded the Plmiaub. part Of the
domain Of the Emperor IBrahim. The
chief treasure house or the Hfndoo em-
pre- was al Agra, and thither Baber sent
MS son Humayun, at the head Of a body
OF troops, 10 take possession.
TribGfe From IbrahIm.
No plunderins was permitted. but q
tribute VAS offered to the victorious Ba-
Der, which was conveyed 90 him by his
son This tribute. Of great richness and
spleudor. included the KChinOor. the
lame OF which, even then. was known
throughout India
The stone is said to have weighed at
mat time 1913 carats- Tavernier. q French
/. traveller. described It a century later as
weighing go. having thus been reduced
by an unskillful stonecutcer. Its present
weight IS lS6 carats
Baber graciously received the gift from
his son. and offered 20 return IL 10 him.
but this, as a matter Of etiquette VAS de-
cIined. Its evil spell however. had touch
ed Humayun. for he so greatly cnvied mis-
sire its possession that he resolved to re-
gain II at any cost.
Two years passed before he was able
70 carry out his cherished plan He stole
IL then from the treasure house. where il
was kept, Dur was compelled 10 rygtOre IT,
Outraged at this uniliaI conduct Baber
withdrew his royal and paternaI favor.
and IL was not until Huuiayuu fell ill.,
long after, that he became reC0nciIed 10
him
Thinking his son to be dying the grief
stricken parent cast about for "a suitable
Offering 70 save his life. The wise men
whom he consulted suggested the Won
derfUl diamond taken az Agra but Baber,
thinking his own life OF greater value,
determined 20 give it for his sons. and
so walked three times round the sick
mans BED, crying II have borne II away"
The doom was transferred 10 him and
he e'cEeued and died OF the fever. while
liul .ayun recovered
Advent of the English.
The first English travellers had arrived
az the court OF Moguls and carried back
extravagsnt stories Of fabulous riches.
which had resulted in forming the LIE
want, the first OF the trading companies
that wrought the ultimate ruin OF the
MOgul Empire
James / of England had sent Sir
Thomas Roe as Ambassador 20 the NoguI
Court and he sr1s the first Enelish-uan TO
learn OF the existence and value Of the
Kohinoor. though 80 IS not on record
that he ever actually saw il. Il was
cCnhGe1 20 the care Of Jehaujir's Empress
who bore the name 'Nur Jehan." Light
of the World" to whom 10 brought no
other disaster than the entrance OF the
English.
On Johaujir's death the great diamond
fell 10 shah Jehan, VINO was deJhronsd
by his son, Au-uug Zcb. and cast with
bis daughter. JihaDira. into prisJ IN Here
they lauEUished seven years. bit Jehan
continued 90 smuEEle into his prison a
vast quantity OF jewels. among rs hich was
The KohinOcr, aud So he was left IN
possession Of the diamond until his death.
when JihaHiTa gave jt up TO Auruuz Zsb
who theLccforth wore b. iu his rurb1u.
II fell 70 his heir. Shah Alum. who at
the same time came into possession OF
an empire yielding the enormous rev
cnue Of 100000 600 annually.
The Gems BaneTuI Influence.
Tho history OF shah Alum is not IN
like that Of othy- owners Of tae uuluc1v.
if superb. gem. The dIsiutecrati5n Of The
Gegul Empire had begun. and violence
and iusurrection were common Tn. I'm
reror himself was murdered Ills sue
cessor, Jehsnier shah. and ghe next pos
SCISSOR ~ the diamond was dethronef
and ssluatcd- FeIuk shire. the next
owner. met % like fate In as short time.
so that. In the course OF q few months
Che diamond changed hands three times
AT last the Mogul Empire was invaded
by Nadir. shah ~ Persia. who gEa.--.I
heavy tribute from MOhaumcd. the rrlE1-
ing emperor. The latter Cnlecvo-ef I'D
retain the KohinOOr. hiding 10. as he
thought. securely. There was however
traitor in his own househ hold q woman
OF the hareu. who told Nalir that Mo-
manned had concealed the diamond i'm
tie folds Of his turran.
At q meeting OF the two potentatcs not
----------- ~-------------