About the Matan: The Largest Authentic Diamond Recorded

THE MATAN.

Exploration of the Land of the Matan--Traditional Wealth of Borneo-The "Reputed largest--known Diamond in the World"--Exportation of Diamonds by the Dutch--The Ladies of Batavia--Sir Stamford Raffle's Account of the Matan--Found by a Labourer, claimed by the Rajah--Regarded as a Talisman--Appearance of the Gem--Offers of Purchase in Gold and War--ships

Borneo is no longer a terra incognita. The Dutch at one point and Rajah Brook at another have already dissipated for us some of the legendary terrors that have induced travellers and traders to give the coasts of Brunei and Sabah a wide berth. Recently two important works on Borneo have been published, the first by Carl Bock, who has explored most of the Dutch territory, the second by Joseph Hatton, who, in possession of the private letters and explorers' reports of the British North Borneo has given us some interesting revelations about Sabah, and the mysterious regions of Kina Balu. These current volumes, written upon authoritative data maintain to some extent the traditional character of Borneo as "a treasure house of gems," though it is plain that the mineral wealth of the country has been overrated. The habit of one writer copying from another previously referred to, has been peculiarly in vogue as touching the history of Borneo, the truth being that until within the past year no white man has ever crossed the island from shore to shore. Even now this work of exploration has not been carried out at the widest point. The company which, chartered by the Queen, revives memories of the association which gave us our Eastern Empire, is now exploring the most interesting part of Borneo, the mountainous regions of the north. Expectations of mineral discoveries are justified, and whether they are realised or not all who are interested in the history of the world's famous gems will watch with curiosity the new developments promised in the land which is known to have produced many splendid stones, but which is more particularly associated with the history of the Matan diamond.

Since the reduction of the Great Mogul by Borgio, the Matan (commonly, but incorrectly, written Mattam), takes rank as "the largest genuine diamond of which there is any record." We are not in a position to express a definite opinion upon the genuineness of the stone. There are travellers who are as emphatic in their belief as to its reality, as others are in denouncing it. The question is who among them have seen the original stone, and who only a model of it; for it is alleged that the Sultan only exhibits the latter under very special circumstances. It was found apparently in the year 1787 in the Landak mines near the west coast of Borneo. The town of Landak, the centre of this rich mining district, which is said to abound in gold, diamonds, and iron, lies to the north-east of Pontianak, a little north of the equator, and in 109 degree 53 E. long. The district is comprised within the territory of the Rajah of Matan, which stretches along the west coast, between Pontianak and Sarawak, and which has long been subject to the Dutch. The diamond takes its name from the Rajah of the territory, in whose family it has remained ever since its discovery.

Very little being known regarding these Borneo diamantiferous regions, the subjoined particulars may be found interesting. Those of Landak are amongst the oldest and most productive in the world, and have been worked, though not very systematically, ever since the establishment of Malay settlements on the coast. Here diamonds are found not only in the river beds when dry, but also in their original sites at the foot of the mountains. The diggings are usually carried to a depth of from ten to thirty feet, and constant experience has shown that the deeper they are dug the gems are both more plentiful, and of larger size and finer quality. At Landak there are ten parits or mines, each employing from twenty to thirty labourers. So far back as 1738, the Dutch annually exported from this district diamonds to the value of from 200,000 to 300,000 dollars, and Sir Stamford Raffles tells us that "few courts of Europe could boast of a more brilliant display of diamonds than, in the prosperous times of the Dutch, was exhibited by the ladies of Batavia, the principal and only mart yet opened for the Bornean diamond mines, and whence those known in the European world have been procured. With the decline of the Dutch Government, however, the demand has decreased, and the mines are now much neglected, the numerous diamond-cutters not being able to obtain a livelihood. Formerly, when more Chinese were employed in the mines of Landak, diamonds from 10 to 13 carats were common in the public markets. The Pangeran (Rajah) of Landak now wears one of 18, and another of 14 1/2 carats."

The mines in this part of the island have been worked for over a century chiefly by the Chinese. But in 1842 the "Celestials" were set upon, and either massacred or driven out of the country by the Dyaks, as the aborigines are called. The cause of this outbreak was the intolerable tyranny of the Chinese, who appear to have treated the Dyak labourers employed by them with the most atrocious cruelty and oppression. It was one of these Dyaks who found the large diamond under consideration, as fully related by Sir Stamford Raffles. "Among the larger diamonds which these mines have produced, it may not be uninteresting to mention that the great diamond now in the possession of the Sultan of Matan, which has been seen and examined by Europeans, weighs 367 carats; it is of the shape of an egg, indented on one side. It is, however, uncut; and on this account it may be difficult to say whether it will become the largest cut diamond ever known; for the famous diamond of Aurung-zeb, called the Mogul, in its rough state, weighed 795 carats, and was then valued at pound 600,000; but when cut was reduced to 279 carats. This celebrated diamond, known by the name of the 'Matan' diamond, was discovered by a Dyak, and claimed as a droit of royalty by the Sultan of the country, Gurn-Laya, but was handed over to the Pangeran of Landak, whose brother, having got possession of it, gave it as a bribe to the Sultan of Sukadana, in order that he might be placed on the throne of Landak. The lawful prince, however, having fled to Bantam, by the aid of the prince of that country and the Dutch, succeeded in regaining possession of his district, and nearly destroyed Sukadana. It has remained as an heir-loom in the family for four descents, and is almost the only appendage of royalty now remaining."

Although it has brought little but trouble to its owners, this gem is looked upon by them as a sort of tutelar deity, and held in the very highest esteem on account of the astonishing healing virtues with which the popular imagination has endowed it. That such superstitious ideas should still be prevalent amongst the semi-civilized races of the East, need not surprise us, when we remember that the great luminary of the Church, St. Jerome, author of the Latin Vulgate, attributed all kinds of wonderful virtues to the sapphire, solemnly declaring that it secured to its owner the favour of princes, disarmed his enemies, baffled the wizard's arts, liberated captives, and even appeased the wrath of the Deity himself. The Malays of Landak are firmly persuaded that the water in which the Matan has been dipped is a specific for all disorders; and, no doubt, this very belief has occasionally produced good results, especially in cases of nervous complaints. Similar effects are constantly witnessed amongst the devout pilgrims to the various shrines and holy wells, such as those of Loretto, La Salette, Lough Derg, and others in Roman Catholic countries.

Hugh Low tells us that the Matan "is as yet uncut, and weighs 376 carats, so that if cut and polished, it would be reduced to 183 1/2 carats. Its value is estimated by Mr. Crawfurd to be pound 269,378, being less by pound 34,822 than that of the Russian diamond, and pound 119,730 more than that of the Pitt diamond. . . . I have been informed by a person who supposed himself to be a good judge of diamonds that the Sultan possesses the real stone, which he had seen; but that a crystal is shown to strangers, as the Sultan, who has been already robbed of his territory, fears that this last emblem of royalty will be also taken from him by his powerful and avaricious neighbours at Pontianak." Mawe also mentions that a friend of his, "Captain of an Indiaman, was permitted to see it, but was requested not to touch it. This gem was brought in on a gold salver, and was about the size of a common walnut; it had a bluish metallic lustre." It is remarkable that the author of a paper on " Precious Stones" in the Edinburgh Review for July, 1866, describes the Hope as also "of a decided, but rather steel-like blue."

So highly prized is "the Matan Diamond" that its owner has always refused to part with it, declining the most tempting offers of the Dutch Government, which has shown a great desire to get possession of a talisman associated in the eastern mind with empire, and with the fortunes of the dynasty guarding it. Early in the century, the governor of Batavia sent Mr. Stewart to the Rajah to negotiate its purchase. He offered 150,000 dollars, two large war brigs, with their full completement of guns and ammunition, besides a considerable quantity of other warlike material, but the tempting bait was rejected.