The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-11-03
Wealth in India,

A Paris paper says: Nothing but ridi-
cule could have attended any attempt
on the part OF the Prince of Wales to
rival the Mohammedan rulers Of India
in ostentation and magniticenee. In the
matter OF presents alone, his utmost mu-
niticence would have been surpassed by
a 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 the COM
mand OF the army in the Decean, sworo,
the scabbord of which was OF gold, set
with stones valued at 100000 rupees
$50, ,000); dagger at $40, 600; an elephant
and two horses, all their furniture OF
gold, set with stones, and state carriage,
built in imitation OF the one sent to the
Emperor by King James |.
On his birthday, Jehan 'Gheer was so
richly adorned with jewels that SIR
Thomas Roe protested that in all his life
he never saw such inestimable wealth
together. ssrhe time," he continues,
''was spent in bringing his greatest ele-
plants 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, clothed in gold, silk and
silver. In this manner about twelve
companies passed by, most richly
adorned, the first having ali the plates
on his head and breast set with emer-
aids and rubies, being. a beast
| OF wonderful bulk and beauty.
They all bowed down before the King,
making their reverence very handsome
lly. Gu one occasion, when the King
honored his Minister with his company
at dinner, the road was covered tor a
whole mile with silks and velvets sewed
| together, and the cost OF the banquet
was valued at 960,0O0 ($3J0, ,000). On his
birthday, Jehan Cheer Was weighed
against seven kinds of commodities,
such as rupees, jewels, cloths of gold,
silks, caicoes, spices. money and outer,
which were atlerWard distributed among
the poor. The scales were oil beaten gold,
and for moresurety 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, exr
pecting the Kings coming out. At
iength he appeared, covered with dia-
monds, rubies and pearls. He had sew
eral strings of them about his 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 tue rest,
| | saw rubies as large as walnuts, and
pearls OF prodigious magnitude. He
got into the scales, sitting on. his legs
like tailor"
The munifcence of the Delhi En-
perors, at times, savored Of reckless
extravaganza. A singer, having de-
| lighted the royal ears, was rewarded
his own weight in silver coin, amounting
| to 6, 800 rupees, and with an elephant-to
carry his treasure to his house. The
famous Noormehal, having shot four
tigers with the matchbox from the back
Of an elephant, was presented by the
| enamered Jehan Cheer with a pair OF
| emerald bracelets valued at fl0, QUO $780,
00O), while 1000 rupees were distributed
in charity. The great Akbar surpassed
| his pred decessors in personal wealth.
| According to Ferlshta, that illustrious
potentate numbered among his possess
sions coined silver computed at 100, ,000,-
600 rupees; choice ruBies, one maund, or
eighty pounds weight; common rubies
and other precious stones, ten maunds
uncoined gold, seventy maunds; un-
| coined silver, 1850 maunds; copper pice,
so billions (four pice 11ad.); Elephants,
j over 5000; horses, 1900; Deer, 5000;
i hunting leopards, over 900, and hawks,
500. 1t is recorded, probably with good
deal of exaggeration, that Akbar's trea
sury contained 600, 900, 900 ($400, 00O, ,00e
{ in silver coin and gems of price, anu thai
on. one occasion he filled tank neal
, Futte Sikri with nine crores of rupees
equivalent to f9000,000 ($45, ,000,000)
/, which were afterward distributed among
/ the needy.