History of the Moon of Mountains Diamond of Persia

THE MOON OF MOUNTAINS.

"Diamond Cut Diamond"--Nadir Shah Murdered by his own Troops--Shafforass and the Afghan Soldier--The Curse of Wealth--A Terrible Tragedy--Three Brothers Murder a Jew and an Afghan for the "Moon of Mountains"--Two Brothers Murdered by the Third--Adventures of the Assassin--The Law of Russia--The Story as told by Pallas--Shafforass the Murderer Retires and Marries, and is eventually Killed by his Son-in-Law.

After unravelling the intricate history of the "Orloff," so often interwoven with that of the "Moon of Mountains," the tragic story of the latter gem flows smoothly enough. That this diamond originally belonged to the Mogul emperors, and passed from them together with a vast quantity of other treasures, to Nadir Shah, is highly probable. It seems to have been in the Persian conqueror's possession for many years, and of all places visited by his destroying hosts, Delhi was by far the most likely to have harboured a rare stone, such as this. It was said to have been one of the two large diamonds which ornamented Nadir's throne, and which were respectively known as the "Sun of the Sea," and the "Moon of Mountains." A few years after returning from his sanguinary campaign laden with spoil, his chariot wheels literally clogged with the blood of his helpless victims, he was murdered, and his ill-gotten treasures plundered and dispersed by his revolted and brutalized troops. This occurred in the year 1747, and a short time afterwards an Afghan soldier, formerly in Nadir's service, made his appearance in Bassorah, a large town on the Shatt-el-Arab, about seventy miles from its mouth in the Persian Gulf. This place has long been a famous emporium for all sorts of Eastern produce, and to it the Afghan warrior brought his wares, consisting of one very large diamond, the "Moon of Mountains," an emerald of rare size and beauty, a fine ruby, a magnificent sapphire, since known to the Persians as the "Eye of Allah," besides many other costly jewels, all of which had doubtless fallen to his share when Nadir's effects were pillaged. At this time Shaffrass, an Armenian merchant, was residing in Bassorah, with his two brothers, and to him the Afghan offered his gems at a very tempting price. Shaffrass, however, who was greatly astonished at the sight of so many sparkling jewels in the hands of a common soldier, evidently unaware of their great value, was obliged to put him off for a few days, in order to find sufficient funds to effect the purchase. Meantime the Afghan became suspicious, and fancying that a snare was being laid for him, suddenly disappeared from Bassorah in the same mysterious way in which he had entered the place.

The Afghan had meantime, made his way to Bagdad, where he fell in with a Jew, to whom he disposed of his treasure for 65,000 piastres, or about pound 500 sterling, and two full blooded Arab horses. But unfortunately for himself, instead of returning to his home in the Suleiman Mountains, he remained loitering in the famous capital of the eastern Califs, squandering his easily acquired wealth in riot and dissipation of all sorts. In the midst of his revels he one day ran against Shaffrass, who had unwittingly followed him to Bagdad, where he had a large trading connection. "Now," thought the wily Armenian, "I shall take good care not to lose sight of my man again, until the bargain is struck." He was not however, a little disappointed to learn that the wares had already been sold to a third party. Nevertheless, there was still hope of doing a stroke of business with the Jew, whose house the Afghan had pointed out, and on whom Shaffrass lost no time in calling. But, although he offered double the amount of the purchase money for the diamond alone, on which he had set his heart, the Jew declined to part with it. Shaffrass now held a consultation with his two brothers, who had joined him in Bagdad. The trio forthwith resolved to murder the Jew, and thus get possession of the coveted treasures. Having carried out this cold-blooded assassination, they also deemed it prudent to get rid of the Afghan, whose evidence would scarcely fail to incriminate them, when the matter came to be investigated. Taking advantage of his dissipated habits, they easily induced him to join them the next day in an entertainment, followed by a drinking bout, during which they found an opportunity of poisoning him in his cups. The two bodies were placed together in a sack, and, according to the approved Eastern method, thrown by night into the Tigris.

Everything had so far gone on smoothly enough. But when they came to the distribution of the plunder, each of the three murderers insisted on having the diamond. As it was impossible to divide the stone into three equal parts, and as neither brother would waive his claim Shaffrass settled the matter by treating his two brothers in the same way that they had treated the unfortunate Afghan. So the following night another sack, also containing two dead bodies, was quietly dropped into the river, and the Armenian found himself sole master of treasures, which on examination were found far to exceed in value his most sanguine expectations. Feeling that it would be dangerous to linger in a place where awkward inquiries might be set on foot at any moment, he packed up, and withdrew to Constantinople, whence he ultimately made his way through Hungary and Silesia to Holland. Here he set up as a dealer in precious stones, and drew the attention of the various European sovereigns to some of his choicer specimens. The Empress Catherine II., who seems to have been particularly taken by his description of the great diamond, sent him a pressing invitation to go to St. Petersburg, where she placed him in communication with the crown jeweller, M. Lasaroff. After some negotiations, he was offered an annuity of 10,000 roubles, together with a patent of nobility for certain of his gems. But Shaffrass, who desired something more tangible, demanded a cash payment of 600,000 roubles, which was considered rather exorbitant. However, Count Panin, at that time Catherine's favourite minister, was fully equal to the occasion, and in the long run proved himself more than a match for the astute Oriental. Shaffrass was beguiled with fair words and empty promises. His demand was neither agreed to nor rejected, and he himself was gradually led into a style of living, which was far beyond his means, and obliged him to run heavily into debt. When his purse was exhausted and his credit broken, Panin suddenly put an end to the negotiations, and the Armenian was officially informed that he could not carry out his avowed intention of leaving Russia or even the capital until all his creditors were satisfied. Such was the law of the land, and no exception could be made in his favour. He now found himself at the mercy of the minister. Nevertheless, he determined not to sacrifice the diamond, which had already cost him so much blood. He accordingly raised money enough to meet his liabilities by the sale of some smaller gems amongst the Armenians of St. Petersburg, paid his debts, and suddenly withdrew from the capital.

He was now completely lost sight of; but ten years later the Russian Court received intimation that he was residing in Astrakhan. Here negotiations were renewed for the purchase of the diamond, which he was at last induced to part with, apparently on the original terms. Murray, speaking of the "Orloff," says that "a Greek merchant, named Gregory Suffrass offered it for sale in Amsterdam in 1766, from whom Prince Orloff bought it for Catherine of Russia for pound 90,000, an annuity of pound 4,000, and a patent of nobility, as he himself informed Mr. Magellan." He then quotes the authority of Dutens for this statement, which, he adds, "Seems to be a genuine account." But Dutens makes no mention of Suffrass or Shaffrass, and merely says that the Jew, who bought the "Orloff" from a ship captain, "a few years afterwards disposed of it more advantageously to a Greek merchant."

To the introduction of the name of Shaffrass into this passage may be traced all the confusion, that has since arisen in regard to the history of the "Orloff" and "Moon of the Mountains." By removing this name the accounts of each become perfectly clear and intelligible. The "Orloff" comes directly from the Seringham temple, Mysore, to Europe by the sea route; the "Moon of Mountains" is brought overland, apparently from Delhi, through Persia, Bassorah, Bagdad, and Constantinople. They both meet for a moment in Amsterdam, the great diamond mart of the West, where the "Orloff" is purchased by Prince Orloff for Catherine from a Greek merchant, and whence Shaffrass takes the "Moon of Mountains," first to St. Petersburg, and then to Astrakhan. Here he ultimately disposes of it, also to the Russian Crown, as above stated.

It may be added that after his flight from Badgad, the crimes of Shaffrass came to light. Being thus prevented from returning to his native land, he settled in Astrakhan, where he married, and had seven daughters. But Nemesis overtook him at last; for he was poisoned by one of his own sons-in-law, under circumstances not unlike those by which he had himself sacrificed his two brothers.

Another version of the story is given by Barbot, who states that the "Moon of Mountains" fell into the hands of an Afghan chief, who sold it to an Armenian named Shaffrass, a merchant in Bassorah, for 50,000 piastres. Shaffrass kept it for twelve years, and then sent one of his brothers to Amsterdam to treat for its sale, either with England or Russia. After some protracted negotiations the latter Power acquired it for 450,000 silver roubles, and a patent of nobility to the seller; for thus are titles obtained in Russia."

This reads like an editio expurgata of the more romantic and popular account. But it has its value, in so far as it associates the "Moon of Mountains" with Shaffrass, and thus helps to distinguished this stone from the "Orloff," with which that dealer was in no way connected.

But Barbot's story is itself merely a re-hash of the account given by P. S. Pallas in his Travels through the Southern Provinces of the Russian Empire, in 1793-4. Although involving some repetition, it will be best to give the text of Pallas in full, as it is constantly referred to by writers who have never consulted the original, and who have consequently superadded fresh errors to those for which Pallas is responsible. At p. 276 of the first volume of the English edition (London, 1812) Pallas writes:--

"During my residence in Astrakhan I became acquainted with the heirs of the late Grigori Safarov Shaffrass, the Armenian, who sold the celebrated large diamond, which is now set in the Imperial sceptre of Russia. The history of this diamond, which holds so distinguished a place among those of the very first water, may probably afford entertainment to my readers, as I shall thereby refute many false reports which have been circulated on this subject. Shah Nadir had in his throne two principal Indian diamonds, one of which was called the 'Sun of the Sea,' and the other the 'Moon of the Mountains.' At the time of his assassination many precious ornaments belonging to the crown were pillaged, and afterwards secretly disposed of by the soldiers who shared the plunder. Shaffrass, commonly known at Astrakhan by the name of Millionshik, or the Man of Millions, then resided at Bassorah, with two of his brothers. One day a chief of the Avganians (Afghans) applied to him, and secretly proposed to sell, for a very moderate sum, the before-mentioned diamond, which probably was that called the 'Moon of the Mountains,' together with a very large emerald, a ruby of considerable size, and other precious stones of less value. Shaffrass was astonished at the offer, and pretending that he had not a sufficient sum to purchase these jewels, he demanded time to consult with his brothers on the subject. The vendor, probably from suspicious motives, did not again make his appearance. Shaffrass, with the approbation of his brothers, immediately went in search of the stranger with the jewels, but he had left Bassorah. The Armenian, however, met him accidentally at Bagdad, and concluded the bargain by paying him 50,000 piastres for all the jewels in his possession. Shaffrass and his brothers being conscious that it was necessary to observe the most profound secrecy respecting this purchase, resolved, on account of their commercial connections, to remain at Bassorah. After a lapse of twelve years, Gregori Shaffrass, with the consent of his brothers, set off with the largest of the jewels, which had till then been concealed. He directed his route through Sham (Damascus), and Constantinople, and afterwards by land through Hungary and Silesia to the city of Amsterdam, where he publicly offered his jewels for sale.

"The English Government is said to have been among the bidders. The Court of Russia sent for the large diamond, with a proposal to reimburse all reasonable expenses, if the price could not be agreed upon. When the diamond arrived, the Russian Minister, Count Panin, made the following offer to Shaffrass, whose negociator, M. Lasaref was then jeweller to the Court. Besides the patent to hereditary nobility, demanded by the vendor, he was to receive an annual pension of 6,000 roubles during life, 500,000 roubles in cash, one-fifth part of which was to be payable on demand, and the remainder in the space of ten years, by regular instalments. The capricious Shaffrass likewise claimed the honour of nobility for his brothers, and various other annuities or advantages, and persisted so obstinately in his demands, that the negociation was frustrated, and the diamond returned.

"Shaffrass was now in great perplexity. He had involved himself in expenses, was obliged to pay interest for considerable sums he had borrowed, and there was no prospect of selling the jewel to advantage. His negociators left him in that perplexity in order to profit by his mismanagement. To elude his creditors, he was obliged to abscond to Astrakhan. At length the negociations with Russia were re-commenced by Count Gregory Grigorievitsh Orloff, who was afterwards created a Prince of the Empire, and the diamond was purchased for 450,000 roubles, ready money, together with the grant of Russian nobility. Of that sum it is said, 120,000 roubles fell to the share of the negociators for commission, interest, and similar expenses. Shaffrass settled at Astrakhan, and his riches, which by inheritance devolved to his daughters, had, by the extravagance of his sons-in-law, been in a great measure dissipated."