THE BOOK OF DIAMONDS
greater part of his jewelry throughout his imprisonment in Agra.
The
subsequent history of the Great Mogul from the time it was seen by
Tavernier in 1665, remains a blank. Henceforth no distinct reference
anywhere occurs to it, although we may presume that it continued in the
possession of Aurung-Zeb's successors down to the sack of Delhi by
Nadir Shah.
THE GREAT DIAMOND TABLE
Another
large stone mentioned by Tavernier which has been lost to general
knowledge, is recorded as "The Great Diamond Table". Tavernier saw it
in Golconda in 1642, and said it was the largest he had seen in private
hands while in India. It was offered for sale to him for 500,000 rupees
or 750,000 livres. He took a casting of it, and sent that to two
friends at Surat, who commissioned him to offer 400,000 rupees for it
if the stone was clean and of fine water. The offer was refused, and
nothing further is known of it. The weight as given by Tavernier was
242 3/16 carats.
BRAGANZA
The
Braganza is said to be the largest diamond ever found in India. But its
very size—it weighs 1,680 carats in the rough—has caused its quality to
be questioned. Mawe claims that the stone is a white topaz. It must be
remembered that topaz is a fluo-silicate mixed with silicate of
aluminum which is often very apt to be mistaken for a diamond by the
unpracticed eye.
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