of his enemies. The order respecting the diamond was
executed in his presence, but fortunately the queen of the
harem escaped the bloody decree respecting her fate.
The Shah. — This diamond formed a part of the Persian
regalia from remote times, until it passed to the Russian
treasury, where it now belongs. No authentic record of its
earliest history has been transmitted, but there is little doubt
that it originated in India, whence a large number of the
celebrated diamonds came. It was one of the valuable gems
plundered from the treasury of Nadir Shah after his death, but
it was recovered and presented to the Emperor Nicholas by
Prince Kosroes, son of Abbas Mirza, when on a visit to St.
Petersburg, in 1843. The diamond is a long prism, of the first
water, and weighs eighty-six carats after ntting. It is engraved in Aralo-Persian characters, with the names of Akbah
Shah, Nizam Shah, and Ali Shah, three Persian rulers, " Lords
of Irostan." It is said that this diamond and the Akbah Shah
are the only ones brought from the East that have been
engraved.
The Akbah Shah. — This gem was found among the treasures of the Mogul emperors, and was engraved on both sides
in Arabic ; on one was the inscription, " Shah Akbah, the
Shah of the World, 1028 A. H.," corresponding to 1650 A. D.;
on the other side was engraved, "To the Lord of Two Worlds,
1039 A. H." — 1661 A.D. The diamond was lost sight of at
the close of the seventeenth century, but has recently come
to light, so it is stated.
The Shah Jehan. — There are strong probabilities that
this diamond is identical with the Akbah Shah. It came
into public notice in Turkey, a few years ago, where it was
called the " Shepherd's Stone," and was purchased by an
English gentleman, who had it reçut in London. It was an
