Chapter Knot and Bridle to Kremlin of K by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

went to the monarchs of Afghanistan, and when Shah Sujah was depossessed he gave it to Runjeet Singh, of the Punjaub, as the price of his assistance towards the recovery of the throne of Cabul'. It next went to Dhuleep Singh, but when the Punjaub was annexed to the British crown in 1849, this noble diamond was surrendered to Great Britain. It is valued at £120,664, some say £140,000.
   Its present weight is 106 1/16 carats.

Kohol or Kohl. Russell says, “The Persian women blacken the inside of their eyelids with a powder made of black Kohol.”

“And others mix the Kohol's jetty dye
To give that long, dark languish to the eye.”
Thomas Moore: Lalla Rookh, part i.

Koli or the Kolis. The 51st Foot, so called in 1821 from the initial letters of the regimental title, King's Own Light Infantry. Subsequently called the “Second Yorkshire (West Riding),” and now called the “1st Battalion of the South Yorkshire Regiment.”

Knox Ompax The words of dismissal in the Eleusinian Mysteries. A correspondent in Notes and Queries says “knox” or “kogx” is the Sanscrit Canscha (the object of your desire); “ompax” is om (amen), pacsha (all is over). If this is correct, the words would mean, God bless you, Amen, The ceremonies are concluded. When a judge gave sentence by dropping his pebble into the urn of mercy or death, he said “Pacsha ” (I have done it). The noise made by the stone in falling was called pacsha (fate), and so was the dripping noise of the clepsydra, which limited the pleader's quota of time.

Koppa A Greek numeral = 90. (See Episemon .)

Koran or, with the article, Al-Korân [the Reading]. The religious, social, civil, commercial, military, and legal code of Islam. It is rather remarkable that we call our Bible the writing (Scripture), but the Arabs call their Bible the reading (Korán). We are told to believe that portions of this book were communicated to the prophet at Mecca and Medina by the angel Gabriel, with the sound of bells.

Korrigans or Corrigan. Nine fays of Brittany, of wonderful powers. They can predict future events, assume any shape they like, move quick as thought from place to place, and cure diseases or wounds. They are not more than two feet high, have long flowing hair, which they are fond of combing, dress only with a white veil, are excellent singers, and their favourite haunt is beside some fountain. They flee at the sound of a bell or benediction. Their breath is most deadly. (Breton mythology.)

Koumiss or Kumiss. Fermented mare's milk used as a beverage by the Tartar tribes of Central Asia. A slightly alcoholic drink of a similar kind is made with great ceremony in Siberia. It consists of slightly sour cow's milk, sugar, and yeast. (Russian, kumuisu.)

“Kumiss is still prepared from mare's milk by the Calmucks and Nogais, who, during the process of making it, keep the milk in constant agitation.”- Rawlinson: Herodotus, vol. iii. book iv. p. 2.

    The ceremony of making it is described at full length by Noel, in the Dictionnaire de la Fable, vol. i. 833-834.

Kraal A South African village, being a collection of huts in a circular form. (From corral.)

Kraken A supposed sea-monster of vast size, said to have been seen off the coast of Norway and on the North American coasts. It was first described (1750) by Pontoppidan. Pliny speaks of a sea-monster in the Straits of Gibraltar, which blocked the entrance of ships.

Kratim The dog of the Seven Sleepers. More correctly called Katmir or Ketmir (q.v.).

Kremlin (The). A gigantic pile of buildings in Moscow of every style of architecture: Arabesque palaces, Gothic forts, Greek temples, Italian steeples, Chinese pavilions, and Cyclopean walls. It contains palaces and cathedrals, museums and barracks, arcades and shops, the Russian treasury, government offices, the ancient palace of the patriarch, a throne-room, churches, convents, etc. Built by two Italians, Marco