Рассказ The Pearl - ЖемчужинаThe largest single natural pearl known as a drop shaped gem, three inches long and nearly two inches thick, was found by a Persian diver in the pearl bearing bed near Bahrain in the year 1628. The Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan bought it for enormous amount and presented it to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahall. A century later, the gem known as the “Pearl of Asia” was listed among the treasures of Ch’ien Lung, Manchu Emperor of China and in 1799 it was buried with the Emperor”s body.
In the year 1900 a gang of grave robbers managed to steal this famous pearl and sold it to somebody in China. Eighteen years later it turned up in Hong Kong and was acquired as security for a loan by the Catholic Board of Foreign Missions. It is stated, when the loan was in default, the religious people carried it to Paris during World War and sold it for an unrevealed price to an unidentified person, but for an amount believed to be below the prewar estimated value. The present whereabouts of this giant pearl have remained a mystery and, as such it has become only a subject of research.
As usual, the giant pearl of Shah Jahan and other historic diamonds mysteriously slipped away from the subcontinent and found their way to Great Britain.
Словарик
shape - форма, обрабатывать
inches - дюйм (= 2, 5 см)
giant - гигант, огромный,
unrevealed - нераскрытый
thick - толстый, жирный
slip - скольжение, сдвиг
enormous - громадный
beloved - возлюбленная; любимая
whereabouts - местонахождение
robber - грабитель; разбойник; вор
loan - ссуда; кредит
acquired - приобретать; получать
amount - количество
gem - драгоценный камень; самоцвет
prewar - довоенный Сохранить эту страницу в социальной сети:
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