THE KOH-I-NUR. 105
the
great diamond to the image of Juggernaut. The covetous priests were
willing to run the risk of any amount of baleful influences, provided
they could secure the Koh-i-nur as a forehead jewel for their idol.
Runjeet nodded his head, so the Brahmans averred; and on the strength
of this dubious testamentary bequest they claimed the stone. The royal
treasurer, however, less fearful of the wrath of the god than of that
of the succeeding rajah, refused to give it up.
Kurruck
Singh wore this symbol of royalty for a brief space and then died of
poison to make way for a usurper, Shere Singh. This unlucky monarch
was killed in a durbar as he sat on his throne in Lahore, and the
Koh-i-nur was flashing in his turban at the very moment when the
assassin aimed the treacherous shot.
And
now, last of all the Indian owners of the wonderful gem, we come to
Dhuleep Singh, the infant son of Runjeet the Lion. It has been said
that the Koh-i-nur belonged ever to the
