from Tuscany into the keeping of the very acquisitive Emperor
of Austria is unknown to me : probably it accompanied Peter Leopold in
his translation from the Grand Ducal to the imperial dignity.
DIAMOND-CUTTING.
The
art of diamond-cutting seems to have had its birth in Hindustan, and
that at a very early period. This may be inferred, though somewhat
indirectly, from many circumstances. Garcias ab Horto, writing in
1565, remarks that the Hindoos set a very high value upon the Diamonds
of the " Old Bock," particularly those finished by the hand of Nature
herself, called by them " Naifes;" "fer" . say they, ' as much as a
virgin is to be preferred to a woman already deflowered, so much is a
Diamond perfected by Nature superior to one polished by human
art.' But the Portuguese hold the contrary opinion, and set a much
higher value upon the artificially-cut stones." Again, the antiquity of
the Indian method of diamond-cutting may be gathered from the fact that
when Taver-nier visited the Eaolconda mine (1665) he found a multitude
of diamond-cutters established there, and fully employed. Each was
furnished with a wheel of steel, about the size of a dinner-plate. They operated on only-one stone at a time, but did their work rapidly, having diamond-powder à discretion. If
the rough stone were clear, they did nothing more than polish the
natural faces of the crystal, in order not to detract from the weight,
but if it contained flaws, or black or red specks, they covered it all over with facets, so
as to disguise them. So invariably was this their practice that
Tavernier, as soon as he saw an Indian Diamond facetted, was certain of
its being defective, and was put on his guard accordingly.
