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The Koh-I-Nur: Runjit

Runjit at first received the two ill-starred brothers with open arms, and even declared war on their behalf against Shah Mahmud, from whom he took the territory of Kashmir, which at that time formed part of the Afghan dominions. He, however, not only forgot to restore their possessions to the unfortunate brothers, but began to oppress them in every way, and to extort from them all the treasures they had brought away from Kabul. Amongst these the "Koh-i-Nur" was coveted more than all the rest, and Runjit spared no efforts to get hold of it. How he at last effected his purpose is thus related by Kluge:-- "Driven from Peshawur to Kashmir, and hence to Lahore, Shah Shuja became apparently the guest, but in reality the prisoner of Runjit Singh, who, though no connoisseur of precious stones, none the less attached great importance to their possession. Of the 'Koh-i-Nur' he had heard only by report, and employed every means to secure it. Wuffo-Begum, consort of the unhappy king, had also sought and obtained protection from Runjit, and was consequently now residing in Shadera. Runjit ordered her to deliver up the stone, which, however, she protested was not in her possession. Thereupon he caused all her effects to be seized and brought to Lahore, thus acquiring jewels of greater value than any he had ever possessed before. Supposing that the 'Koh-i-Nur' was amongst them, the bulk of the property, including shawls, carpets, and gems, was retained, and a few trifles returned to the Begum. But soon ascertaining that the 'Koh-i-Nur' was not to be found amongst the jewels, he had the Begum closely watched; two of her most intimate attendants were thrown into prison, and the other members of the Zenana deprived even of bread and water. No one, without being first searched, was allowed to approach or leave the princess, and it was at the same time intimated, that nothing but the surrender of the diamond would satisfy Runjit. Thereupon the Begum sent him some very costly stones, and amongst them a ruby of considerable value. Having, as stated, no personal knowledge of gems, the tyrant of the Punjaub now fancied that this ruby, which surpassed everything he had yet seen, must be the real stone. But in order to make assurance doubly sure, he sent for a person acquainted with the 'Koh-i-Nur,' placed all the stones before him, and asked, which is the 'Koh-i-Nur?' He received answer that it was not amongst those gems, which compared to it, were of little value. This made him all the more eager to procure it, and he again began to treat the Begum and her family with great harshness. After keeping them without food for two days, finding that she still held out, he gave up the hope of bringing her to terms by such means, and had recourse to more insinuating ways. She now promised to give up the stone, provided Runjit released Shah Shuja from captivity in Kashmir, and conferred a life pension on him, besides sundry favours on herself and friends. Shah Shuja was liberated at once, but some of the conditions not having been fulfilled, the Begum declared that the stone was not in her keeping, but that it had been pledged to a merchant in Kandahar. Runjit thereupon returned to the former coercive measures, and the princess was once more deprived of food, but all to no purpose. At last Shah Shuja himself volunteered to surrender the stone, and a time was fixed, on which he promised to produce it. "On June 1, 1813, the appointed day, Runjit, accompanied by several confidential friends, and some experts acquainted with the stone, proceeded to Shadera, where Shah Shuja was then residing. At the ensuing interview, after both were seated, a profound silence prevailed which neither side seemed disposed to break. An hour was thus spent, and Runjit, notwithstanding his impatience, still abstained from interrupting the solemn stillness. He, however, hinted to a confidant that he might quietly remind Shah Shuja of the object of their interview. Thereupon the latter nodded to a slave, who withdrew, and presently returning with a packet, which he placed on the carpet, at an equal distance from the two princes. Deep silence again ensues; Runjit's impatience grows to a fever heat; no longer able to control his feelings, he directs one of the attendants to take up the packet; it is opened, and a glittering gem of unusual size is revealed, and recognised by the experts as the true 'Koh-i-Nur.' At sight of the long-coveted prize, Runjit forgets the past, and breaks the silence with the question 'At what price do you value it?' To which Shah Shuja replies 'At good luck, for it has ever been the associate of him who has vanquished his foes.' And he might have added with equal truth, 'At bad luck, for sorrow and sufferings have ever followed in its wake!' But by his answer he betrayed the true secret of the mysterious reverence akin to worship, with which choice gems of this sort have ever been regarded in the East, and till recently in the West." Much in the same way Marboeuf, bishop of Rennes, in the 11th century, described in barbarous Latin verse, the virtues of the Agate, thus translated by King:-- "The Agate on the wearer strength bestows. With ruddy health his fresh complexion glows; Both eloquence and grace by it are given, He gains the favour both of earth and heaven."

According to the account of a trustworthy eyewitness, Shah Shuja's bearing throughout this interview was such as to command the deepest respect, and produced a marked effect on the audience. He received from Runjit a sum of 125,000 rupees, and soon after this occurrence he withdrew with his brother, Shah Zaman, to Ludianah, in British territory, where they resided for some time on an annual pension of 60,000 rupees each, and 6,000 to each of their eldest sons. Here Whittaker tells us that he saw them in 1821, and he adds that Runjit at that time had the diamond at Lahore, capital of the Sikh States. "A Bengali shroff, or banker, named Silchurd, resident at Ludianah, having occasion to visit Lahore on the Rajah's business, asked his highness for permission to see the jewel, which being granted, Silchurd fell on his face and worshipped the stone."

The further adventures of this splendid gem are soon told. Runjit caused it to be set in a bracelet which he wore on all public occasions. On his death bed in 1839, an attempt was made to induce him to conciliate the favour of the gods by presenting the stone to the famous shrine of Jaganath (Juggernaut). He is even said to have given his consent by an inclination of the head; but the crown jeweller refused to surrender the treasure without a duly signed written warrant, which was being prepared when Runjit breathed his last. It thus remained in the Lahore jewel--chamber till the young Rajah Dhulip-Singh was recognised by the British Government (after the murder of Shu-Singh), when an English Agent was stationed with a strong body-guard in Lahore. Then followed the mutiny of the two Sikh Regiments, which brought about the final annexation of the Punjaub in 1840, when, as related by Hunt, "the civil authorities took possession of the Lahore Treasury. under the stipulations previously made that all the property of the State should be confiscated to the East India Company, in part payment of the debt due by the Lahore Government, and of the expenses of the war. It was at the same time stipulated that the 'Koh-i-Nur' should be presented to the Queen of England. After the Company became possessed of the gem, it was taken in charge by Lord Dalhousie, and sent by him to England in custody of two officers." Thus this great historical diamond passed with victory from East to West, and was presented to the future Kaiser-i-Hind on June 3, 1850. It was shown at the first great Exhibition held the following year in Hyde Park, on which occasion it attracted a great deal of attention, although it had been so unskilfully treated by the Indian cutter that it looked little better than an ordinary crystal.