The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1865-07-27
ORIENTAL MARRIAGE GIFT.
East indians to the Prince and Princess
Of Wales.

/ When the Prince Of Wales was mar
I ried to the Princess Alexandria the vas
+ sal potentates of India sent the bridal
pair number of rich presents which
are thus described: ::
These presents, and more especially
those from India, are OF an exceedingly
costly character, and If the native work
/ men have not displayed the skill in set
ting which European artisans possess,
the potentatcs for whom the articles
we're made have shown all that magniii
cencc which Asiatic rulers are famed
The Raiah's gifts consist principally Of
suits of emerald, pearl and diamond
necklaces, armlets. bracelets, bangles,
and other ornaments and are of very
great value. One of the most remarka
/ bic objects is casket presented to the
Prince and Princess by the European and
native subjects resident in the Punjaub.
The top of this casket contains por-
traits in ivory of men whose names will
ever live in connection with the great
struggle 10 regain our Indian empire,
and of others who are little less famed
and there are also views of many well
known places and buildings in India.
The portraits are those of the Mahar-
aiah Runieet Singh and two young wives;
the Bahahadur Shah, ex King of Delhi,
whose venerable appearance also con
trasts greatly with that oftwo young wives
at his side: Dost Mahomed Khan, late
ruler of Cabool, and his son, and also a
portrait of Akbar Khan, the murderer OF
SIR w Macnaughton and, lastly, there
is faithful semblance of the Maha-
jah Dhuleep Singh, late ruler OF Cash
meae, and Of Drvan Muiraj, the rebel
defender of Mooltan. All these portraits
and views have been executed hy native
workmcn with astonishing fidelity and
microscopic minuteness, and under
magniiying glass come out with an as
tonishing clearness and improved beauty.
a large shield, presented 10y European
and native subjects, is very fine spccl-
men of workmanship. The body l. OF
a curiouslv waterel steel which was oh
tanned in India with great difficulty, but
into this steel ornaments in gold OF
fanciful pattern are laid, and in the cen
ters of some plates there are hgureS III
gold of native soldiers and Others, OF
high relief In the center are bosses en-
riched with large stars in diamonds
There is also a large jewcled sword OF
similar workmanship to that in the suits
of ornaments described. This is Il mar
riage present to the Prince and Princess
from the Rajah Kupoortula. gift of
great value consists of decanter- shaped
vessel. four large cups and saucers, and
covers and tray, all of solid gold and
damascened.
The Australian presents consist, first
", of table ornament in silver and gold,
from the colonists of Victoria It takes
the shape Of group OF trees, around
which are entwined grape vines and other
plants indigenous to the colony and at
the same base are some animals and
birds only to he found there. Various
specimens of rich gold quartz admirably
serve the purpose of ornament, and rem
der the present peculiarly Australian. y
smaller epergne is of n similar kind, but
of gold. On the summit are five emus'
eggs which will hold wild flowers This
is a present from the ladies OF Victoria.
Here and there at the base, in rich en-
amel, are the arms of the colony, the
arms of the Prince and Princess of
Wales, and other shields. \ casket of
pure native gold and of native manufac-
ture. is bridal gift from the ladies of
New South Wales. There is also Il sill
yer basket. presented to the Princess of
Wales bv Sir James Frederick Palmer.
President of the Legislative Council of
Nistnria