Home › Contents › The Russian Table

The Russian Table

A Russian Secret.

IT is not a little remarkable that it should often be so difficult to discover the whereabouts of a great and famous diamond, the more so when we consider its financial value. The "Russian Table" is in evidence, both in works of history and travel, but that is all. Its existence is chronicled, and its size; but we know of no person, who has seen it, and as yet have not unearthed a single "biographic" incident connected with it. Possibly in future editions of the present work, our correspondents may help us. The secrets of Russian jewels are in some cases as well kept as those of Turkey. The "Table" is reported to be a fine stone, though of course its form is the least attractive style of diamond cutting. It weighs 68 carats.

CHAPTER XLII. THE MASCARENHAS I. & II.

A Rich Viceroy, who was also a Toxicologist-"Hung in Effigy" and possibly poisoned as well.

THESE two stones belonged to the notorious Portuguese viceroy, Dom Philip de Mascarenha, who showed both of them to Tavernier, when that traveller was in Goa, in 1648. He thus speaks of them and of their owner. "I will say in passing, that no viceroy of Goa ever left the country so enriched as Dom Philip de Mascarenha. He had a quantity of diamonds, all stones of great weight, from ten to forty carats. But he had especially two, which he was good enough to show me when I was in Goa, one of which, a thick stone, weighed 57 carats, and the other 67 1/2 carats, both of them tolerably pure, and of good water, and cut in the Indian fashion. The report ran that this viceroy was poisoned on board ship, and it was added that his death was a just retribution for having caused so many persons to perish in the same way, especially while he was governor in the island of Ceylon. He always kept the most subtle poison at hand, to make use of whenever he wished his vengeance to be swift. Having in this way, made many enemies, who feared for themselves the fate of his victims, he was found one morning hung in effigy in Goa, when I was there, in the year 1648."