* 
278 Scientific Intelligence. — 
for, and under the direction of, Dr. Hofmann), as well as of other brine- 
springs, and the waters of certain seas. 
The extreme saltness of this and the neighboring lakes would appear 
to arise from the separation, at some remote period, of these masses of 
salt water from the main ocean, together with the great Caspian and Aral 
lakes; and the continued evaporation by constantly diminishing their 
volume (as has been proved by observations on the spot) has caused them 
ultimately to become, as they are, perfectly saturated brines: an 3 
ftus states that there are other lakes in the neighborhood which have 
completely dried up. leaving nothing but a great bed of salt. 
. On the Koh-i-Noor Diamond, (from the Proceedings of the Ashmo- 
lean Society, Feb. 12, 1855)—The Secretary (M. Maskelyne) made a 
communication on the history of the Koh-i-Noor diamond. r 
counting the fabulous and traditionary accounts of it existing stil] in In- 
dia, whereby its antiqnity was carried back to the Indian hero Bikram- 
with him his 4 or tributary the Rajah of Gwalior Bikramajit, custodian 
of the fortress of Agra. It is reported by Baber to have come into tl 
Delhi treasury from the conquest of Malwa by Ala-ed-deen in 1304. 
Baber gives its weight as about 8 mishkals. In another passage he es. 
him of the jewels of Aurungzebe differed slightly in themselves, and en- 
tirely from his drawing of the diamond; but that the former, on the 
‘as to conceal the lower part of it. It seemed probable, however, from 
another reason, that the diamond Tavernier saw was not the one he im- 
ined it to be, and of which he had doubtless heard descriptions in the 
mines of Golconda, but the diamond of Baber Aurungzebe held bis 
father a state prisoner. Shah Jehaun had been asked by his unfilial con- 
queror to give him some of the splendid jewels which he retained in his 
captivity ; at first, indignantly refusing, Shah Jehaun threatened to 
: 
