Romans
when they looted India. Little mention is made of them in the
literature of that day. The writers of the New Testament, some of whom
used other precious stones freely to typify beauty, magnificence, and
worth, ignore the diamond. Pliny probably got his idea of value from
the fact that only a small number of the kings of the Orient possessed
any. They were found in a few districts in India only, and as the
rulers of those districts claimed all the best stones found, and
Oriental princes seldom parted with their jewels of any kind, they
could not be dispersed to any great extent, nor have any definite
value. The diamond was a local jewel. Its wider field was as a cutter
and graver.
The
reports of early European travelers do not indicate that diamonds were
preeminent among the jewels of India. It is said of Sighelmus of
Sherborne, that having been sent by King Alfred in 883 to Rome with
presents for the Pope, he went on from there to visit the tomb of St.
Thomas at Mylapore (Mailapur or St. Thome, a suburb of Madras) and
brought back with him jewels and spices. No specific mention is made of
diamonds. From the reports of later European travelers into India, it
may be inferred that the Indian mines of old, as within the last four
or five centuries, yielded few large stones. In those days they could
not shape a diamond to the requirements of the jeweler's art. It was
mounted as a natural crystal, and when mounted, though a wonderful
stone, it was a clumsy jewel.
But
rumor spread a knowledge of the stone; imagination endowed it with
marvels, and desire for it spread and grew stronger. A world-wide
interest was created, and diamond mining in India became an important
industry.
