92 THE GREAT DIAMONDS OF THE WORLD.
residing
within the limits of what was termed, in the first quarter of this
century, the " Presidency of Bombay," and in that capital alone there
were 6,000 families. No other class of natives has connected itself so
intimately with the English. The fire which blazed in the burning bush,
but consumed it not, is still the emblem of the Supreme Being they
worship. They learn English and speak it idiomatically. They master
also the Gujerati tongue, which prevails-about the Gulfs of Cutch and
Cambay, and a large tract of the western coast; and, although their
religion indisposes them to become working jewellers, they value, as
Europeans do, beautiful things in nature and art. That the Parsees
would resist the outrageous bartering tricks of the native, is
characteristic, but that a magnificent gem in their possession would
be broken up is questioned. Then where is the great " Table " diamond ?
Certainly not advertised, if in Persia, nor paraded, if in Bombay,
Gujerat, or Beejapoor.
