FAMOUS DIAMONDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20781, 29 July 1929, Page 12

FAMOUS DIAMONDS.

WOVEN WITH ROMANCE. THEIR HISTORY TRACED. . Hardest and most bf-illiant and most imperishable of minerals, the diamond has always been the most coveted of precious stones, and round it much of the romance of jewels has centred. It has been a factor in tragedies innumerably, supplying the motives of war and rapine, says a writer in the Cape Times. The history of the great diamonds of the. world has been traced i through many vicissitudes and in their stories are woven intrigues and crimes, butcheries, and sacrifices which have come about for the sake of these precious gems, ' Something of the romance and history attached to the famous diamonds of the world may be read in their name. There are, among others, the “ Moon of Mountains.” “The Sea of Glory,” “The Star of Diamonds/’ “The Star of the South ” "'The Great Mogul.” “The Mountain of Splendour.’ “The Throne.” “The Eugenic/’ “Tire Polar Star” “The Pasha of .Egypt/ and the *' Napoleon/* All have interesting and often fascinating stories attached to them, but the most famous diamond in the world from the point of view of history and romance, is the Koh-i-noor, or Mountain of Light. The first authentic reference to the Koh-i----noor - appears in a. passage from the ‘ Memoirs of Sultan Baber,” the author of which was a direct descendant of Tamburlaiire, - and founder of the so-called Mogul Umpire, hi a passage dated May 4, 1526/the Sultan describes how the family of Bikermajit, the Rajah of Gwalior, .who was killed in battle, gave to Humaiun (the favourite sou ot Baber) a tribute of jewels and piecious stones, m return for clemency Minch he had shown to them. Among these precious stones was the “Koh-i-noor,” lUiicli Baber describes as being “ so vainable that a judge of diamonds valued it at ij i of r> , ex Pense of the whole world. Baber also that the diamond had been acquired by Sultan Ala-ed-dm, so that it is possible to trace its existence some 200 years further back. Its history during those 200 years is an almost inextricable, mixture of fable and tact, but from the time when it fell into the hands of Baber its romantic history is well authenticated at every step.

CLEVER RUSE. TI» stone remained in the possession of.the.Mogul dynasty until Nadir Shah's imas.on of India during the reign of Mohammed Shall-in 1739. When Nadir seized on the Delhi treasure, the ‘‘Koh-i----noor, _ which he was bent on securing, \vas missing, and for a long time all hia enorts to secure it were unavailing, until a woman from Mohammed’s harem betrayed the secret, informing Nadir that the Emperor wore it concealed in his turban, which he never on anv occasion laid aside.

To secure the diamond Nadir resorted to a very clever trick. He skilfully availed himself of the time-honoured Oriental custom, seldom omitted by princes of equal rank on State occasions. At the grand ceremony a few days afterwards be d in Dehli for the purpose of reinstating Mohammed' on the throne Nadir suddenly took the opportunity ol asking li.m to exchange turbans in token of reconciliation. Mohammed, utterly taken aback, could do nothing but fall in n ith the suggestion, and Nadir withdraw to his tent to unfold the turban and disco \ei w. 1-1 rapture the long coveted stone. At Nadir s death the jewel passed into the hands of his feeble son and temporary successor Shah Eokh. To him it brought nothing but misfortune, yet he clung_ to it under pressure of the most atrocious tortures, including even loss of sight. Aga 'Mohammed put him to the most fiendish tortures in order to induce him to part with the famous .jewel, but even' when Mohammed ordered his victinis head to be,closely shaved and encircled with a diadem of paste into which boiling oil was poured, Shah Rokh still retained his hold of the great diamond, ■ „ -J?^? r . les such as this accompany the Koh-i-noor •' all through its history, until in 1849 it was presented to’the Queen of England, leaving India inf 1850. Since then it has remained in the possession of the Royal Family. , STAR OF THE SOUTH. Although the famous South African diamonds are of too.! recent discovery to have histories such as.those of the big Indian jewels, many of the bigger South African stones, have interesting stories attached to them. There is, for instance, the first diamond, discovered accidentally by a trader, Mr John O’Reilly, in Griqualand West. Mr O’Reilly had put up for the night at the house of a farmer. Van Niekerk, and in the course of the evening one of the children was playing on the floor with some pretty pebbles which she had found. Mr O’Reilly’s attention was attracted by one stone which threw out a very strong light. Suspecting that it wag more than a mere pebble, he spoke' to Van Niekerk, and after discussion it was agreed that the trader should have the pebble, ascertain its value, and if it was found to be a. diamond, sell it and djvide the money between himself and Van- Niekerk. The stone was eventually forwarded to Queen Victoria’s jewellers, who pronounced it to be a diamond valued at £500.., ■ Mr Van Niekerk, from whom Mr O’Rqilly had obtained the first stone, hearing that it had. turned out to be a diamond, remembered that he had seen one of a similar character in the possession of a native, and set out to find it. The native had kept the stone, and Van Niekerk gave him nearly all he possessed for it—about 500 sheep, horses, etc., and obtained the stone. It was found to be a diamond of over 83 carats (the first one was '22* carats), and was purchased for £11.200, and christened the “ Star of South Africa,” It ultimately became the property of the Countess of Dudley. Of all South African diamonds, the most famous is the Cullinan diamond, which is three, times the size of any known stone, and beautifully clear and water white. It derives its name from Sir Thomas Cullinan, the purchaser of the ground upon which the Premier mine,’ where the diamond was found, is situated.It was discovered in January. 1905,- and in its uncut state weighed'-3025| earats. : In 1907 it was presented by the Trans-! vaal Government 'to King Edward VII. Subsequently it was cut into two stones, one of 5161 carats and the other of 309 : carats or ornament the Sceptre and Crown of England. The clippings of the original stone yielded several smaller diamonds.