19. This paragraph, and that next following, are, in the original
edition, printed as part of Chapter 48, 'The Great Diamond of
Kohinur', with which they have nothing to do. They seem to belong
properly to Chapter 47, and are therefore inserted here. The
observations in both paragraphs are merely repetitions of remarks
already recorded.
20. It need hardly be said that these fire-eaters no longer exist.
CHAPTER 48
The Great Diamond of Kohinur.
The foregoing historical episode occupies too large a space in what
might otherwise be termed a personal narrative; but still I am
tempted to append to it a sketch of the fortunes of that famous
diamond, called with Oriental extravagance the Mountain of Light,
which, by exciting the cupidity of Shah Jahan, played so important a
part in the drama.
After slumbering for the greater part of a century in the imperial
treasury, it was afterwards taken by Nadir Shah, the king of Persia,
who invaded India under the reign of Muhammad Shah, in the year
1738.[1] Nadir Shah, in one of his mad fits, had put out the eyes of
his son, Raza Kuli Mirza, and, when he was assassinated, the
conspirators gave the throne and the diamond to this son's son,
Shahrukh Mirza, who fixed his residence at Meshed.
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