About the Discovery and Cleaving of the Bazu Diamond

THE BAZU.

A Product of the Kollur Mine--Cleavage and Flaws--A Risky and Unprofitable Speculation.

Before the cleavage this stone, which Tavernier procured in the Kollur mine, weighed 104 carats. Although of fine water, it seemed to be so foul in the middle, that, being of large size and held at a high price, none of the Banians (native traders) would venture to purchase it. At last a Dutchman named Bazu was bold enough to do so, and having had it cleaved there was found in the interior as much as eight carats weight of impurities, which had the appearance of decayed vegetable matter. The smaller portion remained pure with the exception of a few almost imperceptible blemishes. But as to the other portion, the flaws passed right through it, and it had to be divided into seven or eight pieces. Bazu ran a great risk in having this stone cleaved. The operation might have broken it into a hundred pieces. Even as it was he made a bad bargain, which shows plainly enough that "where the Banians refuse to bite, there is not much hope for the Franks."