Ti 



CONTENTS. 



hardest of all known substances — Sketch from Marco Polo — Its habi- 

 tat — Discovery of the secret of polishing the diamond — Anecdote of 

 Charles the Bold — Forms of the diamond — Definition of the word 

 carat" — Rule for estimating the value of the diamond — Method of 

 Tavernier — Value of celebrated diamonds — Rarity of large diamonds — 

 Diamond belonging to the house of Braganza — That belonging to the 

 Rajah of Mattan — Diamonds belonging to Russia — The Pitt diamond — 

 The Sancy diamond — The Piggott diamond — The Russian diamond — 

 History of the Koh-i-nur, or the Mountain of Light" pp. 83 — 51 



KELICS OF POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS. 



St. Mark's Eve in Yorkshire p. 61 



The Glen of Green Spirits p. 72 



The Pariah of Bombay p. 82 



The Spectre Harper . . . p. 93 



The Ship of the Dead p. 103 



WRECK OF THE MEDUSA. 



The frigate abandoned — Committed, in a high sea, to the tender mercies 

 of a raft — Apprehensions of the West Indian soldiers — Scarcity of pro- 

 visions — Delirium occasioned by prolonged abstinence — Terrible con- 

 test on the raft — Effect of sea-water on the epidermis — Famine — 

 Another fatal contest on board the raft — Deplorable condition of sur- 

 vivors — Expedients resorted to to overcome the distressing gnawings of 

 hunger — Final rescue by the Argus — Detailed sketch of the privations 

 and sufferings endured on the raft .... pp. 113 — 127 



CHARACTER AND MANNERS OF THE TYROLESE. 



Character uf the Tyrolese compared with other people in Europe in the 

 wars of Kapoleon — Their patriotism and singleness of purpose — Their 



