Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-22
The Sultan of Turkeys Treasures

CEVCtEItUtt IEHteS-OLUf.
The political skies of Europe were never
darker or more indicative of coming storm
than at the present time. The Egyptian
trouble has assumed proportions that could
not have been anticipated, and the course
Of the representatives of some of the DOW
ers at the Constantinople conference, es-
pecially Russia, indicate that terrific storm
may soon break. This, Of course, means
the involving of Turkey in a war.
Turkey is believed to be so absolutely
bankrupt that another war would probably
bring about her immediate destruction
That she is bankrupt so far as being able or
perhaps intending to pay the principal of
her national debt is probably true; but the
Sultan has in his treasury resources that
would enable him to carry on a war for
some time.
The imperial treasury is in one of the
heavy stone buildings of the Seraglfo at
Coust autinople. Among its contents are
effigies of the Sultans, each in the robes
and armor he wore when alive. and many ST
them are weighed down with Jewels. There
are antique arms and armor, heavy with
gold and jewels; there are innumerable
horse trappings and saddles, covered with
plates of gold and studded with emeralds,
rubies, topszes, diamonds and pearls; there
are saddle 'cloths, embroidered with pre-
cious stones; several sofa a-covers hanging
in the cabinets as backgrounds to the
smaller articles, which are of heavy cloth of
gold, embroidered with seed pearls, and
worth $150,OO0 apiece. There are bird
cages of gold; sacks of velvet embroidered
with gold, pearls and diamonds; samplers
of red velvet, on which texts from the
Koran are embroidered in diamonds; amber
mouthpieces for p ipes, studded with dia-
monds and rubies: vases Of crystal, agate
and onyx, many enriched with jew
els; inkstands and snuff boxes,
coffee sets, tea sets, knives, forks and
spoons of solid gold, with jewels on their
handles; an immense number of clocks, fans
inDumerable, umbrellas of white silk ex-
quisitely embroidered, and having handles
OF matchless sprays of coral a yard long;
and tea sets of tortoise shell as thin as pa
per. Dwight, In his "Tdrkish Life in War
Time," describes toy, which is figure of
Sultan seated on his throne, under golden
canopy ribbed with alternate rubies and
emeralds, the whole structure being about
six inches high. Tue body Of the figure is
single huge pearl; the lower extremities
are carved from a blue turquoise, and the
turban is a solid mass Of diamonds.
During the late war between Turkey and
Russia the Turkish Government pledged
some of these jewels to the banks for a
loan of $50, 900 600, but comparatively so
small was the quantity of jewels removed
by the bankers TO secure the loan, that the
loss of the three boxes full made no appre-
ciable gap In the accumulation. There are
still many millions of dollars in the SuItan's
treasure house.
The Sultan has still another large fund at
his disposal In the event of q holy war
in the event of holy war being officially
proclaimed; this is the Treasure Of
Islam'-the offerings Of gold and silver de-
posted by many successive generations of
pilgrims to the three holy places-the Caaba
at Mecca, the vaults OF the Mosque of Soli-
man at Jerusalem, and the crypt of the
tomb Of Ali at the gates OF Bagdad. This
total accumulation is estimated to be $780,
O0O, 900, which Is probably an exaggeration;
but that 1t amounts to very many million
dollars there is no doubt.
Il would be an easy matter for the Sui
tan, In the event of Turkey becoming in
volved In another war, to convert his Jewels
into cash. and as the followers of the Pro-
phet are becoming incensed over the fire.
quent reverses of the sSultsn's armies, it
would not require very great urging to in
duce him, as the head of the Mohammedan
Church, to proclaim a holy war, and thus
secure not only the assistance of all Mo.
hammedan soldiers, but the vast "treasure
Of Islam" also-that very necessary support
of all governments. especially In time Of
War-money,