assassinated
by the emissaries of the rival faction at that time contending for the
throne of the " king of kings." After his death the murderers handed
over all his jewels to Sadek Khan Shekaki, who had been one of his
leading generals, but who was suspected of having been privy to the
murder. Since then the " Taj-e-Mah " and " Darya-i-Nur " have remained
in the possession of the Persian monarchs, and are now set in a pair of
magnificent bracelets, which are reputed to be worth about a million
sterling.
Our
authority for this statement, and in fact, for nearly all our
historical notes, regarding both the " Taj-e-Mah" and " Darya-i-Nur,"
is Sir John Malcolm, who visited Persia in an official capacity early
in the present century, and who, at an interview with the Shah in
Teheran, was allowed to inspect the crown regalia. He thus relates the
incident in his Sketches of Persia, published anonymously, 1827
:— "The king, at this visit, appeared in great good humour with the
Elchi, and gratified the latter by shewing him his richest jewels,
amongst which was the 'Sea of Light,' which is deemed one of the purest
and most valuable diamonds in the world. Many of the others are
surprisingly splendid." Sir John Malcolm adds, ' The ' Darya-i-Nur,' or
' Sea of Light' weighs 186 carats, and is considered to be the diamond
of the finest lustre in the world. The ' Taj-e-Mah,' or ' Crown of the
Moon,' is also a splendid diamond. It weighs 146 carats. These two are
the principal in a pair of bracelets, valued at near a million
sterling. Those in the crown are also of extraordinary size and value."
