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THE BRAGANZA. 147
the
kingdom of Portugal ? Don Pedro preferred the young empire of Brazil to
the old kingdom of Portugal, which he gave to his little daughter Donna
Maria da Gloria for whom he contracted that unnatural marriage with his
own brother. The house of Braganza was divided against itself for many
years during the first quarter of this century and very nearly came to
destruction thereby. The diamond which goes by the family name did not
meddle in these politics, but lived in modest retirement, wherein it
differs remarkably from the other diamonds with which we have already
become acquainted.
Indeed
the Braganza stone leads so secluded a life that its very form is not
distinctly known, but is said to be octahedral, a type of
crystallization frequently met with in diamonds and topazes. Its color
is likewise subject to variation ; some writers declare it to be
white, and others again aver that it is deep yellow. As to its
valuation — that is mere guess-work under the circumstances of
ignorance in which we all
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