The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1906-02-17
THE cHAH OF THE CAR.
One of Two Enormous Diamonds Be
longing to the Russian
Crown.

AlnuhS NhC ~lVnotooAnAN VI Nh~
emperor of Russia is a diamond Of
great value, the history Of which
is as romantic as that of the fam
Gus Kohinoor. 1t is an irregular
prism III e, o. lie S re and
nearly the length Of the finger, and
is called the Chah.
This stone, which formerly be-
longed to the Sophi, was one of
two enormous diamonds which
adorned the throne Of the Nadir-
chah and was called by the Per
slams "Moon of the Mountains"
When Nadir was assassinated
his treasures we've pillaged and
his precious stones were divided
between some soldiers, who con
cealed them.
An Armenian named Shafras,
who lived with his brothers in the
town of Bassora, was one day ac-
costed by an Afghan, who offered
for sale a large diamond, with d
hundred other pieces of less value,
for a small sum. Saying he had
not the necessary funds for the
purchase. Shafras asked the AT
CHAN to call again. The diamond
seller was evidently suspicious Of
Shafras, for he disappeared from
the town and could not be found
for years. AT last the elder of
Shafras' brothers came across
him at Bagdad, just after he had
disposed Of his gems. The pur
chaser, who was a Hebrew, re
fused double the amount he had
paid for the stones, so the tire
brothers c%onspired to kill hin
for the possession of them. Whel
this had been accomplished they
followed the Afghan, poisoned
him and threw the bodies of their
two victims into the E%uphrates.
Next the brothers disagreed
among themselves, and the. eldest
disposed of the others in the same
way they had got rid of the He
brew and the African.
shafras next appeared at the
courts Of Europe Offering the
great diamond for sale. Gather.
inc of Russia Catherine H. had
the man invited to court and put
into communication with the
court jeweler. The conditions Of
fered Shafras were: Letters of no
bility, an annuity of 10000 rubles,
100000 rubles, payable in tenths
from year to year. Shafras held
out for coo, 900 rubles in cash,
Count Pancin, who was minister
at the time, launched the Armeni.
an in a style of life which obliged
him to contract large debts, and
when he knew that Shafras had
no longer a sou with which to
meet them he broke off negotia
tons. According to the laws OF
the country Shafras could moi
leave the empire or even the town
without ra his debts, so his po-
lltion Was painfully embarrassing.
The ieweler of the court was pre-.
pared to profit by the Armenian's
distress. but the man was too
sharp Tor him. He secretly sold
some inferior stones to his cOmpa.
patriots, paid his debts and disap-
peared.
1t was fully ten years before he
was again heard from. Then he
reappeared in Astrakhan on his
way to Turkey. Negotiations
were reopened and Catherine be
came possessor of the stones. The
price paid was the letters of nobil
ity, 100000 silver rubles and more
than 10000 rubles in assignats.
Shafras, being unable to return
to his native land, settled in AS
trakhan and married. Twenty
years later he was poisoned by on,
of his sons-in.law, who gained lit
tie by his death, for the immense
fortune was soon dissipated. Sew
eral of the grandchildren are nov
living in Astrakhan in abject pov
: erty.
Al A.. nal g..