by Amir (Mir) Jumla to Shah Jahan, though now much reduced in
weight by mutilation and repeated cutting. Assuming the identity of
the Kohinur with Amir Jumla's gift, the leading incidents in the
history of this famous jewel are as follows;--

Event. Approximate
Date.
Found at mine of Kollur on the Kistna (Krishna)
river . . . . . . . . .Not known
Presented to Shah Jahan by Mir Jumla, being
uncut, and weighing about 756 English carats 1656 or 1657
Ground by Hortensio Borgio, and greatly reduced
in weight . . . . . . . about 1657
Seen and weighed by Tavernier in Aurangzeb's
treasury, its weight being 268 19/50 English
carats . . . . . . . . . 1665
Taken by Nadir Shah of Persia from Muhammad
Shah of Delhi, and named Kohinur . . . 1739
Inherited by Shah Rukh, grandson of Nadir Shah. . 1747
Given up by Shah Rukh to Ahmad Shah Abdali . . 1751
Inherited by Timur, son of Ahmad Shah . . . 1772
Inherited by Shah Zaman, son of Timur . . . 1793
Taken by Shah Shuja, brother of Shah Zaman . . 1795
Taken by Ranjit Singh, of Lahore, from Shah Shuja . 1813
Inherited by Dilip (Dhuleep) Singh,
reputed son of Ranjit Singh. . . . . 1839
Annexed, with the Panjab, and passed, through
John Lawrence's waistcoat pocket
(see his _Life_), into the possession
of H.M. the Queen, its weight then being
186 1/16 English carats . . . . . 1849
Exhibited at Great Exhibition in London . . . 1851
Recut under supervision of Messrs. Garrards, and
reduced in weight to 106 1/16 English carats . 1852

The difference in weight between 268 19/50 carats in 1665 and 186
1/16 carats in 1849 seems to be due to mutilation of the stone during
its stay in Persia and Afghanistan.

7. The policy of the first Afghan War has been, it is hardly
necessary to observe, much disputed, and the author's confident
defence of Lord Auckland's action cannot be accepted.

CHAPTER 49

Pindhari System--Character of the Maratha Administration--Cause of
their Dislike to the Paramount Power.

The attempt of the Marquis of Hastings to rescue India from that
dreadful scourge, the P