The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-24
A GREAT TREASURE.

Before the occupation Of India by th
British 1t was tie richest country il gold
precious stones, rare jewels, fine cloil
and cutlery Of any on earth. While th
poor were I~iseIably poor, tho rich wer
immensely ch This was so even Up T.
the breakir, OCT Of the great autiny
When the BRUSH troops were fairly i,
line TO str - ct the rebellion. the watch
word was Revenge and loot. Ii wa.
understood al through the service tina
whatever a soldier could lay hands Oh
should become his plumber. They didn't
fight any the worse for that, but they
struck a dcub.c blow at the Indians.
They crippled them financially as well as
IN "a military sense, and the people have
never recovered. and never can. The
amount Of loot taken out of india during
the rebellion and directly afterward has
been estimated nj $500, 900, 900 As much
more MAS contributed to the rebel cause
by those who could give. Twice or three
times rs much was lost by fire and sword.
England reasoned that an impoverished
people could not rebel and loot was
part of her war policy.
Ten years after the mutiny | was talk
ing with a nlaharajah in the district of
Punjab about the financial change in the
condition of the people, and he said
AT the outbreak of the war our peo-
pie buried or Ind away at least hundred
million dollard. | do not believe that
the tenth part of this great sum has yet
been recovered. Those who secreted it
were dead before the close Ct the war,
and this vast treasure is lost to us"
did not tell him that had put in
year in Inlia. and spen; upward of
$1,000 looking fer some of.that treasure.
Such WAS the fact, however. A couple
Of Englishmca and myself, forming an
acquaintance in Bombay and having a
spirit of adventure. pooled our cash and
followed up several pointers looking TO
buried Treasure. We had thus far failed
TO make an discoveries. and our pert
ncrship had been dissolved and the men
had returned to Bombay. | was in the
Punjab on business connected with an
American house. and had given up the
treasure business in disgust The words
of the malicrajah recalled all my enthu-
siasri. however, and within an hour after
left him Vas determined To havo one
moro pull for fortune. and to 20 i. alone.
This determination was FASTENED ard
solidified by another incident. | WITS
talking with a captain of native in
fantry regiment regarding some ruins
had encountered. and lac said:
"You may have left dozen fortunes
behind you. At the outbreak of the war
these people concealed great deal OF
their wealth in caves and temples. and a
big share Of it is there yet. When YOU
stumble on pile of ruins again give the
place good looking over for loot
"But the natives have done so hun
dred times oyc:, should say"
You are wrong. Where they knew
of treasure they may have uncarthed it,
but they fight shy of rambling about hap
hazard. They believe all ruins TO be
and even if they are not, YOU
will be certain to find hycnas and serpents
about"
Have you ever heard of any treasure
being recoveredg" asked
''IIalf a dozen instances, sir. Tie
former captain of this company went
home with ESQ, 900 after doing two hours
work in the RUNS of temple near Bhau:-
pull"
The next day started for Delhi, and
there bit of good fortune awaited me-
fell il with German naturalist who
was making collection for n rational
and when he learned that |
had had considerable experience in that
Inc nc engaged me as assistant He had
.wo young men with him, thus making
4 party OF four. and when we struck 10
he southwest Ct Delhi, intending TO take
N the plains and jungles between that
,ity end Jodpur, we had six native serv- {
lnts To carry the baggage. Our progress
vas slow and easy, as it was his inten-
ion 70 make a very full collection. The
country over which we passed has no {
ines Of railway then, and was unknown
o white men except as they had hunted :
Trough it. There were tigers and Cthcr
Wild Gamc in plenty, and it seemed to l. I
he nursery Of al India for scrpents. =
hero were days when we could not il
march except rs thc ground was beaten c
y the natives in our front. There was 4
thin population, with the Villages lar J.
part, but IS IN offset the natives were i
lad 10 render any aid, especially as soon f
S they learned that we did not belong
} the ruling race. The hate they felt L
Dr. tho English was something terrible. it
his district has been almost depopulated h
nd quite impoverished By the war. ei
city rulers had been Geposed, taxes lev il
ii with heavy hand, and the natives Ct
orked themselves zap to the highest L
Itch Of indignation as they talked f.
bout IT, =.
My one object was buried treasure. h,
'hilc doing my duty by the professor "
ld opportunity for extensive rambles off d
'e linc OF march, and / never failed TO CT
axe inquiries of natives. This, rs | il
terward learned, was tho worst policy q
could have adopted. Every ruin was w
cred to them, and every white man he
as a deiiler. One might as well have as