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The Jagersfontein: Delhi

King writes "certain it is that Nadir Shah brought the "Orloff" back amongst the spoils of Delhi, along with the "Koh-i Nur." This statement must also be rejected as absolutely erroneous, originating out of the strange muddle in which the stories of the "Orloff" and "Moon of Mountains" have become involved, and from which our accounts of the two stones will, we trust, finally rescue them.

Professor Maskelyne, who carefully examined it, assured King that the "Orloff" was an Indian cut stone, all the facets exhibiting the blunt edges and rounded surfaces that mark the style. Concentrated rows of triangular facets are disposed on the upper surface, and corresponding four-sided facets on the lower surface. It is about the size of a pigeon's egg, with a slight yellow tinge, and in shape so like Tavernier's "Great Mogul," that some writers have supposed the two may be one and the same stone. But this theory cannot be seriously entertained in the face of the vast difference in their respective sizes, the "Great Mogul" weighing 280, and the "Orloff" 193 carats only. Nor is it to be supposed that the former, after leaving Borgio's hands, was without any obvious motive, again entrusted to a cutter, and by him reduced by 87 carats, while preserving its exact shape and out-lines. Otherwise it is conceivable that after the sack of Delhi by Nadir Shah, the "Great Mogul" might have found its way from the Imperial treasury to the far-famed temple of Sri-Ranga in Mysore.