FAMOUS DIAMONDS.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17837, 9 October 1929, Page 14

FAMOUS DIAMONDS.

WOVEN WITH ROMANCE. THEIR HISTORY TRACED. Hardest and most brilliant and most impeijisliaible 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 in-numerable,-'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 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," “The 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 Tamburlainc, and founder of the so-called Mogul Empire. Jn a passage dated May 4, 1520, the Sultan describes how the Tamiiy of Bikermajit. the Rajah of Gwalior, who was killed in battle, gave to Humaiun (the favourite son of Baber) a tribute of jewels and precious stones, in return for clemency which he had shown to them. Among these precious stones was the'“Koh-i----noor," .which Baber • describes as being “so valuable that a. judge of diamonds valued it at half of the daily expense of the whole world." Baber also mentions tlaat the diamond had been acquired by Sultan Ala-ed-din, ■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 fact, but from the time when it fell into the hands of Baber its romantic history is well authenticated at every s^fep.

Clever Ruse. The stone remained in the possession of the Mogul dynasty until Nadir Shah’s invasion of India during the reign of Mohammed ShaJi in 1730. When Nadir seized on the Delhi treasure, the “Koh-i-noor,” which he was bent on securing, was missing, and for a long time alt his efforts 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, whicli he never on any occasion laid aside.

To secure the diamond Nadir resorted to a very clever trick. He skilfully availed himself of the timehonoured Oriental custom, seldom omitted by princes of equal rank on State occasions. At the grand ceremony a few days afterwards held in Delhi for the purpose of reinstating Mohammed on the throne, Nadir suddenly took the opportunity of asking him to exchange turbans in token of reconciliation. Mohammed, utterly taken aback, could do nothing but fall In with the suggestion, and Nadir withdrew to his tent to unfold t.he turban and discover with rapture the long coveted stone. At Nadir’s death the jewel passed into the hands of his feeble son and temporary successor Shah Rokh. 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 victim’s head to bo closely shaved and encircled with a diadem of paste into which boiling oil was poured. Shah Bokli still retained his hold of the great diamond.

Sto'ries such as this accompany the "Kor-i-noor” all through its history, until in 1849 it was presented to the Queen of England, leaving India in 1850. Since then it has remained in the possession of the Royal Family.