reigning
emperor. The whole business was conducted with the utmost solemnity and
precision : the stones were brought in upon two lacquered trays covered
with brocade, Akalkan, the keeper of the jewels attending! they were
counted over thrice, and a list of them made out by three scribes. "
For," adds the old Frenchman, " the Indians do all business with the
utmost circumspection and patience, and if they see any one in a hurry,
or making a fuss about anything, they either stare at him without
saying a word, or else laugh at him for a fool." (For the full details
of this interesting transaction the reader is referred to his
'Voyage,' ii. pp. 278, 372.)
Tavernier,
after carefully examining the great Diamond and weighing it with his
own hands (as he expressly states), which proves that at the time it
was unset, has given us what is evidently a very faithful drawing of
it, and which exactly corresponds with his own description of its
weight, form, and pattern.
All the circumstances warrant the belief that this was
the grand Diamond that Nadir Shah acquired by the ingenious device
above related, just before the sack of Delhi in 1739. It is supposed
still to exist amongst the regalia of the Persian crown, and to be
there designated as the Deryai Noor, " The Ocean of Light." But
as no stone of that unmistakable size and pattern is to be recognised
amongst the drawings of the Shah's Diamonds brought lately to this
country, there is better reason to believe that it disappeared, perhaps
to turn up again at some future day, in the plundering of Nadir's
treasures, which followed the assassination of that conqueror.
This
"Mogul" is often confounded with the Koh-i-Noor, and the same tales are
repeated as to the discovery, fortunes,' and influence of either,
without discrimination. But Tavernier had no knowledge of the latter,
for it is
