The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1888-12-06

SULTANIC TREASURES
Ever since the days when T used to
devour "The Arabian Nights / had
been filed with an ardent desire to
view the marvellous treasures Of the
sultans which n so glowingly de-
scribed in that charming companion
Of my childhood, SO when / found
myself at the Golden Horn, one Of
my first proceedings was to take
steps to get q view at them, writes a
correspondent Of the jewelers. Week
" from Constantinople. / must con-
less, however, that had I known how
much ceremonyand red tape business
was to be gone through before the
desired permission was granted /
would have given up the attempt.
Permission to gaze upon the Sui
ltan's treasure can only be obtained
by means Of a frman from his Sub
lime Highness himself, q sovereign
utterance similar to those by which
peace or war is declared. Having,
however, after innumerable difficult
les obtained the coveted doc
ument, rs aide-de-camp conduct
ed me to the palace known as
the Old Seraglio, a large, gloomy
looking structure without any win
dows and surrounded by deserted
gardens. Upon arrival there l was
handed over to the guardian of the
treasurer high functionary O
most majestic mien, who was accom-
panied by thirty officials of lower
rank to assist in the ceremony Of
opening the doors. The latter rang
ed themselves in two rows, one on
each side Of the entrance. A large
green velvet bag containing the keys
was passed from hand to hand until
it reached the guardian Of the trea-
sure. He picked out the keys and
handed them totwo fthe assistants.
HE outer door was then opened. Be-
Hind this was a wrought iron grating
secured by enormouspadlocks. This
being swung opensWe found ourselves
in the first of three large, badly light
ed and Notwithstanding apart
ments. / was at last in the presence
of the treasures of the Sultans.
The first object which attracted
my attention was a large
throne of beaten gold, which oc-
cupied the center of the room and
which was incrusted with thousands
o rubies, emeralds and pearls. This
throne, according to an inscription
on it, was taken by Sultan SeIim
from the Persians in 1914. 1t is,
however, doubtful whether this work
of art is SO old.
Another throne in the same room
is more interesting. 1t is fine speci-
men of Turkish art in the sixteenth
century. Tt is of the same form as
the seats found in many of the mos
ques, and was intended to be sat up
On cross-legged. At each corner. is a
column which supports a dome ter
minating in a jeweled point. It is OF
ebony and sandwood inlaid with
mother of pearl, tortoise shell, gold
and silver. This covered with fam
tastic plants, in mother of pearl, the
center of the flowers, being COM
posed of large rubies, emeralds, sap
.phires and pearls. Suspended by a
golden chain SO as to be over the
head of the Sultan is a golden heart
from which depends a large emerald
Of irregular form, measuring four
inches long and X inches across.
The three rooms are decorated with
magnificent suits of armor. Here
lis to be seen the beautiful coat of
mail with damaskeened plates worn
by Sultan Murad Nv, when he
captured Bagdad in 1888. Beside it
is the scimitar of the same monarch.
The guard and haaadle are inlaid with
diamonds cut fiat and set in checker
work, each stone being the same size
and half an inch square. This is a
pattern of which the Turkish jewelers.
ofthat period seem to have been
fond, for near this sword is a large
gold vase in the same style. The
whole of the body of this vessel is
hidden by q mosaic of square, fat
diamonds. to the number of 1900.