Maharaja.Ranjit.Sing.. - Gurmat Veechar

Koh-i-Noor Leaves India 35
his courtiers, disguised as a diamond merchant, to
strike a bargain with Humayun. When he presented
himself in the camp of the fugitive king and made
known the purpose of his visit, Humayun was
enraged. He, however, controlled his feelings and
retorted : "Such precious gems cannot be obtained
by purchases; either they fall to one by the arbitrament
of the flashing sword, which is an expression of
Divine Will or else they come through the grace of
mighty monarchs." Hearing this, the disguised
diamond merchant quietly departed. After this episode
Humayun lost all hopes of regaining his empire. So
he left the country along with the diamond which for
the first time in its history left the soil of India.
His way lay through Sistan and Herat. After
enduring many a hardship on the way, Humayun at
last reached Persia with a few followers who remained
faithful to the last. The Shah of Persia received him
cordially and extended to him his royal hospitality
which Humayun enjoyed for full fourteen years. Shah
Tehmasp showed him kindness and treated him in a
manner which made such a deep impression on the
fugitive king that he, as a token of his gratitude,
presented him a number of invaluable jewels including
his most treasured possession, the historical Koh-i­
Noor. The price of these jewels and diamonds more
than repaid the total expenses incurred by the Shah
during all these fourteen long years.