122 THE GREAT DIAMONDS OF THE WORLD.
seem
to the exchange, that for a moment Nadir began to fear he had been
misled. Anxious to be relieved of his doubts, he hastily dismissed the
durbar with renewed assurances of friendship and devotion. Withdrawing
to his tent he unfolded the turban, to discover, with selfish rapture,
the long coveted stone. He hailed the sparkling gem with the
exclamation, " Koh-i-Nur J" signifying in English, " Mountain of Light."
At
Nadir's death most of his treasures were dispersed, but the "
Koh-i-Nur," henceforth known by this title, passed together with many
other jewels into the hands of his feeble son, and temporary
successor, Shah Rokh. On him it brought nothing but misfortune ; yet
he clung to it with amazing tenacity, refusing to part with it under
pressure of the most atrocious tortures, including even loss of sight.
After his overthrow, he had been permitted to reside at Meshd, as
governor of that city and district. Hither he brought the " Koh-i-Nur,"
together with many other gems of great value, which formed part of the
plunder carried off by his father from India. Aga Mohammed, who had
an insatiable appetite for such things, determined to get possession of
them; and in order the more easily to effect his purpose, he advanced
with a large force towards Meshd, under the pretext of visiting the
sacred shrine of the Imam Riza, which is annually resorted to by many
thousands of Shiah pilgrims. He thus succeeded in quietly occupying the
city. After performing his devotions at the tomb of the saint, suddenly
throwing off all disguise, he ordered the blind prince
