ever been the associate of him who has vanquished his foes."
Shah
Shuja seemed to imagine the diamond to be a bearer of blessings. This
is the common belief in India with regard to large diamonds, which are
supposed to possess magic virtues; but Edwin Arnold, than whom there
exists no better authority about Indian legends, distinctly states that
according to a Hindoo tradition " a baleful influence " was ascribed to
the Koh-i-nur. " The genii of the mines, as it declared, enviously
persecuted with misfortunes the successive holders of this treasure."
Rapidly glancing over the history which we know he draws the
conclusion that the tradition sprang up after the event.
To
Runjeet Singh, at any rate, the Koh-i-nur brought no misfortune. He
wore it as a bracelet and it glittered on the old king's arm at many a
Sikh durbar.
On his deathbed, the Brahmans who sur-rounded Runjeet tried to induce him to offer up
