mond
of Aurengzebe was in the possession of Mo-hammed Shah at the time of
the Persian invasion; and if it was it most certainly changed masters,
and became, as is universally asserted, the property of Nadir Shah, who
is also said to have bestowed upon it the name of Koh-i-noor. After his
death the diamond, which he had wrested from the unfortunate
representative of the house of Timur, became the property of Ahmed
Shah, the founder of the Abdali dynasty of Kabul, having been given to
him, or more probably taken by him, from Shahrikh, the young son of
Nadir. The jewel descended to the successors of Ahmed Shah, and when
Mr. El-phinstone was at Peshawur was worn by Shah Shujah on his arm.
When Shah Shujah was driven from Kabul he became the nominal guest and
actual prisoner of Runjet Sing, who spared neither importunity nor
menace, until, in 1813, he compelled the fugitive monarch to resign
the precious gem, presenting him on the occasion, it is said, with a
lakh and 25,000 rupees, or about $60,000. Run-jet was highly elated by
the acquisition of the diamond, and wore it as an armlet at all great
festivals. When he was dying an attempt was made by persons about him
to persuade him to make the diamond a present to Jaganath, and it is
said that he intimated assent by an inclination of his head. The
treasurer, however, whose charge it was, re-
