Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-17
GEMS THAT FADE FROM SIGHT
Rare and Priceless Jewels of India Princes
Lost Forever.
VALUES MOUNT INTO THE MILLIONS
Necklace of midas Joan of Arc
The Great MOguI's Diamonds
PiEarro's wonderful Pc
ruvtan Emerald.


The reported mysterious loss of a ruby
weighing 256 carats from among the crown
jewels In the royal treasury at Stockholm
recalls the disappearance Of other famous
and even more precious stones, whose hid
ing places remain to this day undiscovered
In this connection one naturally turns FIRST
to India, that land associated in the mind
with fabulous wealth In jewels, Where, for
instance. are those two celebrated diamonds
over which a controversy has been carried
on among experts for a hundred years.
These two stones we're known originally as
the Great Mogul and Babar diamonds. The
Great Mogui weighed 279h carats when cut
and was valued at 1896. 900 in our money.
Tavernier. who was permitted to inspect the
gem when visiting the court Of the en-
peror. Shah Jahan, describes 1t as being Of
the purest water and undoubtedly the most
splendid jewel in the world. The Babar
diamond also belonged to the Mogul en-
perors and weighed 1874 carats. As far as
any authentic record Is concerned both these
diamonds were lost when Nadir Shah sacked
Delhi In 1888. Though Nadir carried away
some $176 ,000, 900 worth Of jewels to Persia,
1t Is not known definitely whether he Sc
cured the Great Mogul and Babar diamonds.
The only clue we have TO them afterwaTd
lies In the story Of the Koh-i-nur. The Roh-
i-nur Is known to have been carried from
India into Persia about the time the Great
Mogul and Babar diamonds disappeared, and
upon this fact some authorities claim that
the jewel at present In Queen AlexAndra's
crown is one OF the lost stones. But II the
Koh-i-nur was originally the Great Mogul
diamond, then there must be a nice little
chip Of a diamond weighing SO carats lying
around somewhere, for that was the differ
ence in weight between the two gems. II IL
more likely that the Babar was the original
OF the Koh-i-nur, as they were Of about the
same luster and weight. though there is no
sure foundation even for this belief. II Is
quite as likely thai the Koh-i-nur is an en-
tirely different stone and that previous to
the surrender Of Delhi both the Great Mogul
and Babar diamonds were hidden. Then
when the frightful butchery Of the inhabi-
tants followed the persons who knew whore
the gems had been secreted were killed. and
so all trace OF them was lost. But one thing
is certain, the Great Mogul and Babar dia-
monds can not both be the Koh-i-nur. so
where one OF them 10 remains an unan-
swered question.
A Pearl without Price.
AZ the same time that these diamonds
were lost to view there also disappeared
the famous Mogul pearl. This gem u sup
posed to have been the largest perfect
pearl in the world. 1t was suspended from
the beak Of the jeweled peacock lowering
over Shah 'Jahan's sS5. 600. 900 throne. It
may or may not have been carried away
to Persia by Nadir Shah. but nothing has
ever been heard Of It since.
Another celebrated Indian diamond with
a romantic story attached ana called tho
Great Table Was also seen by Tayernier
In the possession Of a merchant. but what
became Of It subsequently no one knows.
As the hrst thought Of an Indian DOten-
tate when danger threatens u 70 bury his