Es-Sindibad’s adventure in the Valley of Diamonds has been amply illustrated by the learned writer from whom the above remarks are borrowed, and by Hole. The following is an extract from Marco Polo’s Travels: “In the mountains of this Kingdom (Murphila) it is that diamonds are found. During the rainy season the water descends in violent torrents amongst the rocks and caverns, and when these have subsided the people go to search for diamonds in the beds of the rivers, where they find many. In the summer, when the heat is excessive and there is no rain, they ascend the mountains with great fatigue as well as with considerable danger from the number of snakes with which they are infested. Near the summit, it is said, there are deep valleys full of caverns and surrounded by precipices amongst which the diamonds are found, and here many eagles and white storks, attracted by the snakes on which they feed, are accustomed to make their nests. The persons who are in quest of the diamonds take their stand near the mouths of the caverns and from thence cast down several pieces of flesh which the eagles and storks pursue into the valleys and carry off with them to the tops of the rocks. Thither the men immediately ascend, drive the birds away, and recovering the pieces of meat frequently find diamonds sticking to them.” Mr. Marsden transcribes from Hole’s ingenious work part of a quotation from Epiphanius, upon which he remarks: “Thus it appears incontrovertibly that, so early as the fourth century of our era, the tale of the valley of diamonds and the mode of procuring the precious stones from it was current, divested, it is true, of the extraordinary incident of the adventurous sailor’s escape, but in conformity with what was related to Marco Polo—with the exception of the scene being laid in Scythia or Western Tartary where, in fact, diamonds are not found. The question of locality,” he adds, “is however determined by another Oriental navigator Nicoli di Conti, who visited the coast of the peninsula in the 15th Century....” Hole observes that a story somewhat resembling this of the Valley of Diamonds is recorded in the travels of Benjamin of Tudela and that the translator supposes it to have been borrowed from “The Thousand and One Nights.” “However,” he adds with better judgment, “I rather suspect that the account of Benjamin of Tudela and of Es-Sindibad were derived from some common origin.” [Illustration: HOROSCOPE OF KRUGER Kruger’s Diamond was once in the possession of Chaka, the Zulu chief, killed by his brother who was in turn murdered. It is stated that this stone changed owners 15 times, tragedy following each possessor. ]