Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-07-25
THE RAJAHs OF INDIA.
Powerful Rulers with a Special
Fondness for Diamonds.

The traveller who would see India as
it is, writes Frank G.. Carpenter from
Jeypore, must 60 out of the regular line
and enter the native states. There is in
Hindostan a territory nearly one-tifth
the size Of the United States, and con-
tanning a population of more than fifty
six millions, which is governed by Ra-
jahs These Rajahs have power of life
and death. They have revenues of their
own, levy taxation as they please, and
organize their people and armies on
different basis from the English portion
Of India. They are subject in a certain
sense to the English, and some of them
have English officers connected with
their establishments. They are feuda-
tory States to England, and England
does not allow them to make war upon
each other. nor can they have any rela-
tions with foreign states. If a Raiah
misgoyerns his people or Expresses
them, the Viceroy OF India reproves
him, and, if he does not come to time,
secures his removal, These States.
however, have none of the new customs
of English India. Few foreigners visit
them, and the people are substantially
the same as they were years ago-before
the railroad and the English desire for
business came in to grind them up in
the mortar of modern civilization.
One-third OF the whole territory Of
India is possessed by such Raiahs, and
their subjects make up one-fifth of the
inhabitants. Their united armies
amount to 800, 900 men, and their gross
yearly revenues are about $50, 100000
These RaJahs live as grandly as did
the kings Of Northern India in the past,
and the English merchants of India
cater largely to their wants. Some Of
the finest jewelry stores IN the world are
here in India, and under every glass
counter you see barbaric lewelry set
with diamonds worth a fortune. / saw
two rings yesterday, one worth two and
the other four thousand dollars. The
first was diamond of about the size of
a hickory nut, set around with cluster
of small diamonds as big as peas, and
the whole affixed to a finger ring, con-
tanning enough gold to make a hunting
case for a Waterbury watch. The other
was the same size as the gold, but
the central stone was ruby, fully as big
as a chestnut, and the diamonds about
it were very beautiful. The tops of
these rings were as large around as old
copper cents, and as l looked at them
asked the jeweler who would wear such
gorgeous and unwieldy obiectsl He
replied:
'.Oh, We sell these to the Rajahs.
They want the most extravagant jewelry,
and s,me of them fairly cover them
selves with gems. "
At another store l was told that a Ra-
jah had Just been in and given an order
Tor 200 yards OF satin at $40 yard. He
wanted this to paper the walls of room
in q new palace, and thought nothing of.
FASTING this $1,000 upon the plaster
The Sultan of Johore, when 1 visited
him in his palace at Johore. had ropes
of gold about twice the size of clothes
line about his wrists, and upon his fin
gers wore diamond rings. The fingers
of the right hand were covered from
the knuckles to the first joints with
rings set with diamonds and emeralds.
so that a diamond alternated with an
emerald all over his hand, and the whole
made blazing fist of white and green.
On the left hand. the fingers were
covered with rings in the same manner,
save that costly rubies took the place of
the emeralds. At Delhi was shown a
dressing gown set with precious stones,
which cost S35, 600 and which had Just
been made for Rajah, and here at Jey-
pore, through the courtesy Of one of the
most noted Rajahs 81 India, 1 have had
a chance to visit his palace, to get q
glimpse Of his wonderful stables, to take
a ride on one Of his court elephants, and
to see the life and business Of his capital
city.