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THE BANTAM.
One of Tavernier's Royal Customers--"The Queen of Borneo"--The Dutch Regalia--A Fanatical Pilgrim of Mecca--Fighting and Feasting.
When Tavernier was in Java in 1648 he was a frequent guest of the then reigning Rajah of Bantam, in the western part of the island. Like most Eastern potentates, this king was fond of collecting precious stones, and made several purchases from the French dealer. At one of these interviews he produced a kris or dagger, which he was having embellished in the Turkish style. The handle was to be set all over with diamonds, for which purpose, not possessing enough in his treasury, he commissioned Tavernier to procure as many as would be required to complete the work. But the top of the hilt was already covered and in the plaque there was one very large diamond cut in facets, which the expert tells us, as far as he could judge, "was worth at least fifteen or sixteen thousand crowns." The king informed him that he had received it as a present from the Queen of Borneo, and that he had sent it to be cut in Goa. But he himself set a much higher price on it than Tavernier thought it could be worth.
This is all the authentic information we have regarding this stone, which probably passed into the possession of the Dutch, when they suppressed the kingdom of Bantam, and converted it into a "Residency." If so it may be the same stone as that weighing 36 carats, now in the Dutch regalia, and concerning which so little is known. In any case it was very near costing Tavernier his life. He had taken the dagger to Batavia for the purpose of procuring stones for the settings with which the handle, and even the sheath was already covered, but laid on, as he tells us, "without any order, from which I judged that they have no knowledge of design." Returning next morning to the palace, with his brother and a Dutch surgeon, who was attending one of the king's wives, they had to pass along a road with the river on one side, and on the other a large garden enclosed by palisades. Behind these palisades a fanatical native of Bantam lay concealed, watching his opportunity to run "amuck" amongst the "infidels;" for he had just returned from the pilgrimage to Mecca, and was bent on showing his zeal for the faith in the usual Malay fashion. The Europeans were walking all three abreast, and when they reached the spot the fakir thrust out his poisoned weapon, intending to bury it in the body of one of them. But "God permitted him to be too quick, so hat the point passed just in front of us. The Dutchman being on my left, next the river, and slightly ahead of my brother and myself, the spearhead struck his breeches, whereupon he and I immediately seized the wooden haft, while the fakir tugged with might and main to recover the pike. My brother, who was on my right hand next the palisades, and who was young and always ready for a fray, jumped on it, and fetched him three sword-cuts about the body, of which he incontinently died. A number of Chinese and other idolators, who were near the scene came forthwith to kiss my brother's hands, and thank him for having despatched the infuriated fakir. Thence we proceeded to meet the king, who had already been informed of what had taken place, and who showed his approval by presenting my brother with a girdle. For although Mohammedans, these kings and governors are very glad when those gallows birds get killed, well-knowing that they are a reckless set, whom it is desirable to get rid of." The affair ended in feasting, dancing, and a grand display of fireworks, which lasted five or six days. Being associated with such a stirring event, the stone may be appropriately named the "Bantam." |
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Precious Stones Guide Vol 10
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