Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-05-06
THE TimUR RUBY.
The Romantic History of "The Trib
ute Of the World"

The romantic history of the Timur
ruhy has been recently Investigated in
connection with the imperial four in
India. The public are wei aware that
the Koh-i-Neor (Mountain of Light is
part Of tliel British regalia but not SO
many are aware that the gem known
as the Khiraj-i-Alam (rribate Of the
World) is included among the crown
Jewels Of England This spinel ruby
weighs over 352 carats. is uncut but
polished, and appears certain was
discovered in one OF the old ruby mines
Of Eadakshan.
When Tamerlane plundcred Delhi. I'M
1898. this stqpc was seized among many
other precious stones and taken by the
great Tartar conanerer 10 Samarkana
later on. In the course Of time. il came
into the possession nf Mira Uleg BEG,
his grandson. who, the Tartar empire
being on The wane. allowed the ruby
to pass into the possession of the kings
OF Iran. Shah Abbas l., the greatest
Of the Salavi kings ef Persia, presented
the ruby. in 1912, 10 his constant friend
and ally. the Mogul Emperor Jelangir.
IL appears that at one time the ruby
bore the names of Timur's son and
Shah Ahbas himself but the inscrip-
tien has vanished from It and no one
knows whether it was obliterated by
Jehangir himself or has been wern off
through passing time. The story is told
that Jehangir's wife demonstrated with
him for spelling the jewel by the in
seripton to which he replied: This
iewel svfll more certainly hand down
niy name to posteritv than any written
history. The house Of Timur may fall;
but as long as there IS king this jew
e. will he his. which meant. no doubt
that so valuable q jewel would never
pass cut Of the hands OF the snzerain
OF Hindusfan. This prediction has been
fulfilled, fer notwithstanding all the
vicissitudcs of indian history the ruby
is still in the hands of the Kaiser-i-
hind.
To return 20 it's ancient history, the
ruby was placed in the famous peacock
throne by Shah Jehan. who also in
scribed his name upon it. Indeed, name
after name appears TO have been writ
ten upon the stone. for it passed from
father to son. who all seem To- have
had the same ambition. Delhi was
sacked in 1893 and the loot carried
away to Ispahan The TUmur ruby
was, however, returned, as is shown By
the following inscription engraved in
the cryptic style in favor With Persian
scholars of the day:
.eThis Cs) the ruby from among the
q, coo genuine jewels of the king of
kings. the sultan Sahib Qiran. which
in the year 1lEi from the collection of
Jewels Of Hindustan reached this
lslace.
The date is that Of the Ilijra era and |
CORE spends with 1740 A. d The latest
name ON the jewel was inscribed in
1-47 by Abdan or Durani who attempt
ed to seize the throne, failed in this
but succeeded in sec uring. a large
amount of booty. which he took with
linn when he marched south at the
head of his I'sbcg troops and founded
the kingdom of Afghanistan. Timur
Shah. his son. succeeded To the throne
OF Kabul and to the possession of the
ruby. which eventually passed to his
youngest son. Shah Suja. He was eX-
PEELED by Dost Mahomod and taking
refuge in the Ponjah was forced to
surrender both the Koh-i Moor and the
Timur rnhy by the Maharata Ranjit
Singh
When The Pnnjab was annexed in
1S49 the board Of administration took
over all the state jewels. These inelnd-
cd the Kohl Moor and the Timar ruby.
which were sent by special officer to
England anil at once delivered TO Queen
Victoria. They were displayed At the
great exhibition of 1851. at the close OF
which the hoard of directors of the
East India Company presented the ia