CARBON GROUP. 105 



Diamonds are Tallied according to their color, transpa- 

 rency and size. The rose diamond is more valuable than 

 the pure white, owing to the great beauty of its color and 

 its rarity. The green diamond is much esteemed on account 

 of its color. The blue is prized only for its rarity, as the 

 color is seldom pure. The black diamond, which is uncom- 

 monly rare and without beauty, is highly prized by collec- 

 tors. The brown, gray and yellow varieties are of much less 

 value than the pure white or limpid diamond. 



The largest diamond of which we have any knowledge is 

 mentioned by Tavernier, as in the possession of the Great 

 Mogul. It weighed originally 900 carats, or 2,769-3 grains, 

 but. was reduced by cutting to 861 grains. It has the form 

 and size of half of a hen's egg. It was found in 1550, in 

 the mine of Colone. The diamond which formed the eye 

 of a Braminican idol, and was purchased by the Empress 

 Catherine II. of Russia from a French grenadier who had 

 stolen it, weighs 194 J carats, and is as large as a pigeon's 

 egg. The Austrian crown has a diamond weighing 139^ 

 carats. The Pitt or Regent diamond is of less size, it weighing 

 but 136*25 carats, or 419£ grains ; but on account of its un- 

 blemished transparency and color, it is considered the most 

 splendid of Indian diamonds. It was sold to the Duke of 

 Orleans by Mr. Pitt, an English gentleman, who was gover- 

 nor of Bencolen, in Sumatra, for £130,000. It is cut in the 

 form of a brilliant, and is estimated at £125,000. The 

 Rajah of Mattan has in his possession a diamond from Bor- 

 neo, weighing 367 carats. The Koh-i-noor, on its arrival 

 in England, weighed 186*016 carats.* It is said by Taver- 

 nier to have originally weighed 78 7£ carats. It has since 

 been recut and reduced one-third in weight. 



In the Dresden Treasury there is an emerald green dia- 

 mond, weighing 31J carats. The Hope diamond, weighing 

 44£ carats, has a beautiful sapphire-blue color. 



The diamonds of Brazil are seldom large. Maure men- 

 tions one of 120 carats, but they rarely exceed 18 or 20. 

 One weighing 254^ carats, called the "Star of the South" 

 was found in 1854. 



Of South African diamonds, the " Schreiner " weighed, 



* A carat is a conventional weight, and is divided into 4 grains, which are a little 

 ighter than 4 grains troy; 74 1-lft carat grains are equal to 72 troy grains. The term 

 carat is derived from the name of a hean in Africa, which, in a dried state, has long 

 been used in that country for weighing gold. These beans were early carried to 

 India, and were employed there for weighing diamonds. 



