THE KOH-I-NUR 117
in Hindostan. Under the date of May 4, 1526, the Sultan writes :—
"
Bikermàjit, a Hindoo, who was Rajah of Gwalior, had governed that
country for upwards of a hundred years. In the battle* in which Ibrahim
was defeated, Bikermàjit was sent to hell.·)- Biker-mäjit's family, and
the heads of his clan were at this moment in Agra. When HùmaiùnJ
arrived, Biker-màjit's people attempted to escape, but were taken by
the parties which Hùmaiùn had placed upon the watch, and put in
custody. Hümaiün did not permit them to be plundered. Of their own free
will they presented to Hùmaiùn a ' peshkesh ' (tribute or present),
consisting of a quantity of jewels and precious stones. Among these was
one famous diamond, which had been acquired by Sultan Ala-ed-din. It is
so valuable that a judge of diamonds valued it at half of the daily
expense of the whole world. It is about eight mishkels. On my arrival,
Hùmaiùn presented it to me as a peshkesh, and I gave it back to him as
a present."
That
the diamond here referred to is the " Koh-i-Nür," there can be no
reasonable doubt ; nor indeed has the fact ever been seriously called
into question. It will be noticed that, although he
