Ownership Unknown: Priceless Hidden Treasures

Prologue

Nariapur India

1475 AD

Tamil dug his shovel into the diamond-bearing seam for probably the hundredth time this day. Having worked for this mining company for almost five years, he didn’t expect to find much, other than the small sparkling stones that showed up occasionally.

But, as he pulled the dirt loose this time, he saw TWO of the largest stones he had ever seen from this mine. He looked around to see if his supervisor or any of the other workers were watching him. Then he feigned a back spasm and went down on one knee. He quickly picked up one of the stones and tucked it into his underwear.

After he recovered from his back spasm, he scooped up the other stone, along with a bucket full of dirt and carried it to the burro cart. As he dumped his bucket-full into the cart, he grabbed the stone and yelled for his supervisor.

Chapter 1

Nariapur, India

1475 AD

Tamil showed his supervisor the fist-sized stone after rubbing off some of the dirt. It was obviously a huge, rough diamond, with a blue color and amazing sparkle from the areas where he had removed the dirt. The supervisor took the stone from him and couldn’t believe what he was seeing. This was by far the largest rough diamond that had ever been found in this mine.

All of the nearby workers stopped what they were doing and came to look at the stone too, crowding around the cart. While they were all looking and talking, Tamil walked over to the toilet area to relieve himself. He looked back to make sure no one was looking at him, and then he pulled the other large stone out of his underwear and threw it over the perimeter fence, into some bushes on the other side.

The Mircan Mine was one of the largest in India, and was first discovered around 1470 AD. King Marik of the Sali Adib dynasty owned the mine, but leased the operation to diamond merchants. The King received rent from the merchants, plus 3% of the diamond sales. He also was entitled to keep all diamonds over 15 carats size.

Mining was done by hand, with several local Indian laborers working in dangerous conditions. There were many cave-ins in the early years, after heavy rains, that killed dozens of workers at a time. Mining was done by hand digging into the nearly one foot thick diamond-bearing seam that was bounded by gravel and clay layers. The dirt was transferred by bucket to a burrow cart, and after the cart was full, it was moved to another area of the mine, where the dirt was washed and carefully sorted by hand to find any possible diamonds.

Tamil was one of the local Indian laborers who had been working at the mine since shortly after it was opened. He lived in a wooden hut with a straw roof. He was given very little money for his labor, but, instead was given food for himself and his family. Because he had found the huge diamond, he was given a significant bonus payment, which was equal to about a half-year of normal wages. His supervisor thought that Tamil would now be able to move into a much better house for his family.

Very late the next night, Tamil walked along the outer perimeter trail, outside the fence, and with the help of a full moon was able to find his large stone in the bushes. He tucked the stone into his underwear again in case anyone stopped him, and walked quietly back to his hut.

Tamil had to work his normal times for the next two days, but then had his day off. He spent most of the morning cleaning his beautiful stone, seeing how it was so clear and was of the same blue color as the other one, which he had given to his supervisor. This one was also almost the size of his fist and felt quite heavy. He had no idea about how many carats the stone weighed, but knew it would be very valuable when it was cut. His wife and daughter were almost spell-bound as they looked at it in the sunlight, and were also amazed at the fantastic rainbow of colors that the diamond projected onto the floor.

Tamil knew that he and his entire family would be instantly killed if they were caught with this diamond, so he was very careful to keep it well hidden when they weren’t cleaning it or admiring it. His wife tried to think of how she could use the diamond, or display it for the rest of her family to see.

But, Tamil had more practical ideas. He had heard of some dubious characters around the area who were always trying to buy diamonds at extremely cheap prices. They didn’t care how the diamonds came into the possession of the sellers, and they didn’t have any ties to the King or his followers. They only cared about buying the rough gemstones for very low prices and then selling them to similarly shady rough gem cutters. Tamil’s brother had sold some rough emeralds to one of these buyers, so he contacted his brother to find out how he could get in touch with the man.

On his next day off, Tamil and his brother went to the inn where his brother said they might find the buyer. His brother recognized the man, who was sitting with another man in the corner of the inn. Tamil let his brother do the talking, to let the buyer know they had a significant piece that he might be interested in purchasing. After his brother reminded the buyer of their previous transactions, the buyer asked the other man to excuse him so they could talk privately.

Tamil had the diamond wrapped in a cloth, and when he opened it, the buyer looked at it in amazement. He didn’t want to seem too anxious, but he couldn’t help staring at it in disbelief. He had never seen a rough diamond of this size or clarity or color. He sat there with his mouth half opened, almost mesmerized by the gemstone.

After a few moments, he took his balance scale out of its pouch and sat it on the table. As he kept adding little weights to his scale, his mouth again dropped open. The rough diamond weighed an amazing 120.5 carats.

Oh, sir, I don’t think I can handle a diamond of this size. I don’t have nearly enough money to purchase it from you, said the buyer.

But, if you are patient, I think I could put together a couple of other buyers and we might be able to come up with enough money to make the purchase, he added.

Well, we could wait a little longer, but we are really quite afraid to keep it too long. Our hiding place might get found if we keep it very much longer. Also, we are planning on contacting another buyer, so it would be best if you get your group together as soon as possible, Tamil replied.

Please, just give us one week. I’m sure we can come up with a price that will make you very happy, the buyer pleaded.

His brother looked at Tamil, and he nodded, OK, we will meet you back here in one week, about the same time, Tamil said.

Tamil and his brother left the inn and went back toward Tamil’s home. They didn’t want to go directly to the hiding place, in case they were being followed.

Well, at least we know that he isn’t going to try to buy it from you for a minimum price, since he is going to put together a larger amount of money than he had himself, his brother said. And I know that he has quite a lot of money, from all of his dealings I have heard about in this area.

That sounds really good. I knew this diamond was worth a lot, but I didn’t have any idea how much it might sell for, said Tamil.

Just then they noticed someone walking a little distance behind them. And then they saw another man a little behind the first one, but on the other side of the road. Tamil started walking faster and then they turned the next corner. Looking back, they saw one man turn the same corner. They lost sight of the second man.

I think we should split up at the next corner and go different directions, his brother said.

Good idea. I don’t want to go anywhere near my hiding place, so I’ll go to the right, you go to the left, said Tamil.

Before they got to the next corner, they looked back and saw the second man coming out of the trees at the side of the road, not very far behind them. The first one seemed to be getting closer too. Tamil and his brother started walking even faster. Neither of them had any kind of weapon, and they were starting to be a little afraid.

They finally reached the next corner. Tamil went right, his brother went left. Tamil kept his pace, which was just less than a jog. Looking back, he saw one of the men turn the corner toward him. Then he saw the other man also come around the same corner in his direction. He didn’t know whether to try to hide his diamond somewhere beside the road, or keep walking faster. But, he decided that he wouldn’t have time to hide it anyway, so he kept walking faster.

Tamil saw a house just ahead and thought about going up to the door and asking for help. But, he was afraid there would be no one in the house, so he just kept walking faster. The second man had caught up with the first, when Tamil looked back again. They were close enough now so he could see that one of them was carrying a long stick or something, at his side.

Tamil was getting really scared now and started to run down the road. He looked back and saw that the two men were almost at the house that he had just passed. And, then, they turned into the house. Tamil stopped, and watched, and saw them open the door and go into the house. He stood in the middle of the road, trembling, and trying to catch his breath.

He looked up and saw his brother coming down the road toward him. His brother had apparently seen the two men turn toward where Tamil had turned, and decided to try to help him if possible. When they got together, both shared a very nervous laugh, and a sigh of relief. They turned around and started walking toward Tamil’s home again.

One week later, Tamil and his brother went to the inn and met with the buyer and two other men. They both wanted to see Tamil’s diamond. When he un-wrapped it, they both asked to hold it and to inspect it. They were awed by its beauty, even in its rough state. One of them produced a magnifying glass and he held it in a shaft of sunlight coming through the window as he looked very carefully with his glass.

The stone seems to be perfectly clear, with no inclusions or imperfections, said the first potential buyer.

What about the color? Does the blue color make it more valuable or less? the second one asked.

The original contact said, That is an extremely rare color for a diamond of this quality. They are very much desired for use in royal crowns and other royal treasures.

Do you know of a gem cutter that could, at least turn it into a rough-cut? the first one asked.

Yes, I do. I have a good friend in Calcutta who has made beautifully cut pieces out of the raw diamonds, and he knows how to work them for maximum value, answered the original contact. He probably wouldn’t be the best one to do the final cut, but he’s an expert at doing the first rough-cut.

Please excuse us for a few minutes, said the original contact buyer.

Tamil and his brother went to the opposite side of the inn and talked, while the buyers were discussing the offering price and also what they expected they could get for the rough-cut version when they re-sold it.

After a few minutes, they called Tamil back over to their table. Before they made an offer, all three of the buyers wanted to see the diamond again. The original contact buyer was asked to weigh it again for the other two buyers. They agreed that the weight was correct. All three took a look with the magnifying glass again, moving the diamond around in the sunlight beams. The two new buyers both nodded to the original buyer.

We are prepared to offer you 80,000 Pagodas, and will pay you right now, the first buyer said.

Tamil and his brother looked at each other. Oh, but we were planning on 100,000 Pagodas, the brother said.

The three buyers looked at each other for a moment, and then nodded. All right. Our best and our final offer is 90,000 Pagodas, said the first buyer.

Tamil felt a huge sense of relief. The strain of holding such an expensive diamond was definitely getting to him. And, the offer was almost ten times what he was expecting to get. He would be able to share the money with his brother’s family and still be a very rich man.

Tamil looked at his brother, who nodded to him, OK, we have a deal. If you have the money here right now, you can take the diamond with you today, said Tamil.

The three buyers each placed a box on the table and opened the lids. The second buyer placed another box on the table and took out an additional 10,000 Pagodas and placed it into his original box of coins for his offer.

There you are. You are welcome to count it at your leisure, but we assure you that the quantity is correct. 90,000 Pagodas, as we agreed, said the first buyer.

Tamil couldn’t believe the sight of that many coins in the three boxes. He certainly wasn’t going to count it right here, but he knew how to contact the original buyer if there was any discrepancy. Then he thought about how they were going to be able to carry all those coins and the boxes.

Could we borrow the use of your horse, which you brought the coins on? asked the brother.

Of course, the horse. You can return it to our new partner, when you are finished, said the second buyer.

Tamil wrapped the beautiful diamond in the cloth and handed it to the first buyer. It is yours. I hope it will bring you good luck and good wealth in the future, Tamil said.

The buyers helped to load the boxes of coins on the horse, and everyone left the inn. Everyone was smiling and feeling very fortunate, and very rich.

Tamil used a portion of his money to move his family far away from the diamond mine, and they never returned. He knew that he had done the wrong thing when he took the large diamond, but his first instinct at the time was for the welfare of his family. For the rest of his life, he hoped that his finding of the second large diamond for the King would somehow make up for his actions.

His brother and family followed Tamil a short time later, so they no longer had to fear for their lives.

Chapter 2