The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-06-06


of all kinds and all settings, from one worth
81 900 to one hardly worth $40. Then there
are bracelets of gold, the work upon each of
which must have consumed months of careful
labor, and brooches and curious carvings and
lockets of gold and gems. Here is jade
stone heart inlaid with gold, and there is
brooch which surpasses in its diamond setting
the gorgeous stones which Mrs. Senator Stanford
puts on for the White House receptions.
These Indian jewelers. scatter the diamonds
through the gold as though they were pieces of
glass, and they produce a splendor which,
though rather barbaric, has an attraction which
you do not find in the machine-made orna-
ments of our civilization. They get but little
for their work, though they demand great
deal, and one way of selling is to put gold
sovereigns in one side of the scales and gold
ornament in the other. You can by bargain
ing then buy the article for from 25 to so per
cent. more than the weight of the gold for the
workmanship, and from So to SO is fair price
for the work on beautifully wrought bracelet.
They use 22-carat gold, and in many cases
their jewellery is so soft that it wears away
easily. They do not cheat in the character of
the material, though they will demand the high
est of prices. Proper bargaining brings them
down to one-half what they ask, and consider
ing the intrinsic value of the material you buy
fine articles for little more than the cost of
the gold that is in them. Many foreigners
have their ieWelry made for them at their own
houses. A jeweer will bring his little hand
furnace and his tools in bag, and will squat
down in front of your door, and in the course
of few hours will make you breastpin, pair
of earrings or a bracelet of any character you
wish from the sovereigns orthe other gold which
you give him. You must, however. set serv-
ant to watch him, to see that he does not cab
bage little bit of the gbld otherwise he is
md rpha arn -ar rpac
able.
Americans carry away good deal of jewelry
from Delhi. know this by looking over the
books of recommendations held by the mer-
chants. The moment that you arrive at your
hotel from the station you are crowded with
brokers from the various jewelry and shawl
establishments These are black-skinned,
sharp-eyed fellows, who have more energy and
audacity than any American book agent and
whose check is harder than that of the wire
clothes-line seller or the man who wishes to
cover your house and outbuiidings with i'm
proved lightning rods. They jump on the
steps of your carriage, thrust cards into your
lap, and all talk at once in gibberish of half
English, half Hindoostanee. Not a few of
them bring their recommendation books with
them, and they show you the writing of pre-
yious travellers, who state that each man has
sold them goods, and that his particular goods
are the cheapest saw the hand writing Of Gen.
Grant and James Gordon Bennett upon some
of these books, and upon others were glowing
recommendations from Bishop Charles II.
Fowler and John w. Bookwalter. Upon visit
ing the shops and making number of pur-
chases I found how these accommodations were
gotten.
After the sale is made in each case this book
is thrust into the hands of the customer, and
he is asked to testify that he has bought the
L. ~, l. 81 s,,1-,
asmuch as the customer always bargains for the
goods, and buys them at from one-half to one
third of the mans first prices. he cannot we'll
do otherwise than leave testimonial. In the
meantime the shawls sold are wonderfully
beautiful, and they range all the way from So
to 81 500 in value. Queen Victoria gets some
of those fine shawls which she is so noted for
giving away upon all occasions here at Delhi,
and every American who passes through car
ries away one or more OF them,
As to iewelry and shawls, the demand by the
natives is very great. There are number of
Rajahs and rich Hindoos in India, and the
quality of articles demanded by these people is
very costly
/ was shown dressing gown yesterday the
embroidery of which was studded with pearls
and precious stones, and which here in India
| costs S., 500, or 10000 rupees Think of paying
that amount for dressng-gown and reflect
| how gorgeous must be the court costume of the
man who wears it. The poorest of the people
wear jewelry. You may see gold chains upon
the arms and necks of women mixing mud and
manure by the roadside, and / got to-day
| picture of high-caste Hindoo woman who
had ring in her ear, diamonds upon her neck
and gold bracelets upon her ankles She never
| goes out without shawl over her face, and her
| iewelry is for her husbands sight alone A
woman who begged of me this afternoon had q
little naked baby astride of her hip, but there
was gold chain about her neck and silver
/ bracelets upon her arms, while upon the third
| toe of each foot showed out little gold ring.
Another woman who broke stone by the road
side had by actual count II silver bracelets on
each of her arms and her bare ankles had
heavy silver bands upon them with little bells.
Upon her great toes there were curious silver
ornaments, consisting of great silver shield as
big as harness buckle, fastened by a silver
chain which went across the foot to ring on
the little toe, and woman by her side had
bells upon her toes like sleigh-bells | bought
one of these bells through my servant, the
woman taking it from her middle toe and Civ
ing it to me for little more than its weight
in silver rupees.
FRANK G. CARPENTER.