POPULAR SEARCHES:   rings  cut stones  tourmaline  beryl  earrings  yellow supphire  
 
This chapter is tagged (labeled) with: 

Ch. 5: The Great Mogul Diamond

Ch. 5: The Great Mogul Diamond Page of 312 Ch. 5: The Great Mogul Diamond Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
THE GREAT MOGUL.                          69
the passages in extenso. At p. 226, Vol. II., he thus describes the occasion on which he saw and examined the stone :—
"On November 1st, 1665, I was at the palace to take leave of the King. But he sent word to say that he did not wish me to leave without seeing his jewels, since I had seen the splendour of his fete. Early next day there came five or six officers from the Nabob Jafer Khan to summon me to the King's pre­sence. On my arrival at the Court the two keepers of the royal jewels, of whom I have elsewhere spoken, accompanied me to his Majesty, and after the custo­mary salutations they brought me to a small room at one end of the hall where the King was seated on his throne, and whence he could see us. In this room I found Akel Khan, chief keeper of the State jewels, who on seeing us ordered four of the King's eunuchs to fetch the jewels which were brought on two large trays, lacquered with gold leaf, and covered with small cloths, made on purpose, one of red velvet, the other of embroidered green velvet. After uncovering and counting over the pieces three several times, an inventory of the same was drawn up by three scribes present on the occasion. For the Indians do every­thing with great care and composure, and when they see anyone acting in a hurry or irritated they stare at him in silence and laugh at him for a fool.
" The first piece that Akel Khan placed in my hands was the great diamond, which is rose cut, round and very high on one side. On the lower edge there is a slight crack, and a little flaw in it. Its water is fine, and weighs 319-1/2 ratis, which make 280 of our carats,
Ch. 5: The Great Mogul Diamond Page of 312 Ch. 5: The Great Mogul Diamond
Table Of Contents bullet Annotate/ Highlight
Streeter: Great (Famous) Diamonds
Suggested Illustrations
Other Chapters you may find useful
Other Books on this topic
bullet Tag
This Page