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The Moon of Mountains: Russia

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.