The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-10-28
WEALTH IN INDIA.


Rulers Riches Beyond Computation.
Nothing but ridicule, says contem.
porary, could have attended any attempt
on the part of the Prince of Wales tc
rival the Mohammedan rulers of India in
ostentation and magnifcence. In the
/ matter of presents alone, his utmost mu-
nifcence would have been surpassed by
single act of favor displayed by one OF
the former sovereigns of Hindostan.
For instance, Jehan Cheer bestowed
upon his son, when setting out to take
command of the army in the Deccan, ga
sword, the scabbard of which was of
gold set with stones valued at 100, 900
rupees 10000 pounds sterling); dag
ger at 4, 900 pounds sterling; an elephant
and two horses, all their furniture of
gold set with stones" and state car
rage built in imitation of the one sent
to the Emperor by King James /. On
his birthday, Jehan Cheer was SO richly
adorned with jewels that Sir Thomas Roe
protests that in all his life he "never
saw such inestimable wealth together. :
"The time, +" he continues, eswas spent
in bringing his greatest elephants before
him, some of which being lord elephants,
had their chains, bells, and furniture of
gold and silver, with many gilt banners
and flags carried about them, and eight
or ten elephants waiting on each of them,
clothed in gold, silk and silver. In this
manner about twelve companies passed
by. most richly adorned, the first having
all the plates on his head and breast set
with rubies and emeralds, being beast
of wonderful bulk and beauty. They all
bowed down before the King, making
their reverence very handsomely. On
one occasion, when the King honored
his Minister with his company at dinner,
the road was covered for whole mile
with silks and velvets sewed together,
and the cost of the banquet was esti-
mated at go, 600 pounds sterling.
sOn his birthday, Jehan Cheer was
weighed against seven kinds OF COM
modities, such as rupees, jewels, cloth
of gold, silks, calicoes, spices, honey and
butter, which were afterward distributed
among the poor. The scales were of
beaten gold, and, for more surety, there
were silk ropes. The beam was covered
with plates of gold. The great lords OF
the nation sat about the throne on rich
carpets, expecting the Kings coming
out. At length he appeared, covered
with diamonds, rubies and pearls. He
had several strings of them abouthis neck
arms, wrists and turban, and two or three
rings on every finger. His sword,
buckler and throne were also covered
with precious stones. Among the rest,
saw rubies as large as walnuts, and
pearls of a prodigious magnitude. He
got into one of the scales, sitting on his
legs like tailor.
At times the munifcence of the Delhi
Emperors savored of reckless extrava-
gance. A singer having delighted the
royal ears, was rewarded his own weight
in silver coin, amounting to $500 rupees.
The famous Noormehal, having shot
four tigers with the matchbox from the
back of an elephant, was presented by
the enamored Jehan Cheer with pair
of emerald bracelets, valued at 10000
pounds sterling, while 1000 rupees were
distributed in charity. The great Akbar
surpassed both his predecessors IN per-
sonal wealth. According to Ferishta, that
illustrious potentate numbered among
his possessions coined silver computed
at 10000, 600 rupees; choice rubies,
one maund or 80 pounds weight COM
mon r1bies and other precious stones, lO
maunds; uncoined gold, 70 maunds !;
uncoined silver, 100 maunds; copper
pice, so billions -four pice equal to 13d);
elephants, above 5000; horses, $4,000 !;
deer, 5000; hunting leopards, over
900; and hawks, 500. It is recorded,
probably with good deal of exaggera-
ton, that Akbar's treasury contained
SO, 600, 900 pounds sterling in silver coin
and gems of price, and that on one occa-
sion he filed tank near Futtehpur
Sikri with nine crores of rupees, equiva-
lent to 10000 pounds sterling, which
were afterward distributed among the
needy.