THE SHAH. 233
the
process of reduction. It is said to have weighed in the rough about 95
carats, and as its present weight is 86 carats, it lost 9 carats only
in the cutter's hands. The three facets obtained by cleavage are
beautifully engraved in Arabo-Persian characters with the names of
three Persian rulers as under:—
Round
the upper edge of the stone runs a small groove, apparently for the
purpose of securing the string with which it was worn suspended round
the neck. By what process this intaglio and the inscripÂtions were
executed it is impossible to say. The probability is that all were done
at the same time by some European gem-engraver employed by the Persian
Court.
The
third name engraved on this remarkable diamond is that of Aga
Mohammed's nephew, who succeeded him in 1797. On Aga's death in that
year, the usurper, Sadek Khan seized a great quantity of crown jewels.
But he was defeated at Kasvin, and he purchased his freedom by
surrendering most of these treasures. The rest he retained, intending,
if necessary, to use them in a similar way on some future occasion.
Some time afterwards he did actually again revolt. Fat'hh Ali's
patience was now exhausted, and he not only confiscated all the
remaining jewels,
p
