Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-12-18
NIZAM OF HYDERABAD.
MAGNIFICENT SURROUNDINGS OF
An INDIAN POTENTATE.

His Collection of Jewels Valued at
$50, OOO, OOO-The Biggest Dia.
mond in the World-Hunting with
Cheetahs.
1.-The Nizam of Hyderabad,' said
distinguished English traveller to San
Francisco Chronicle reporter, "is one of
the strangest monarchs in the world He
is fnely-featured, brown bearded, hand
some man, perhaps 26 years of age. He
is in every aspect an Oriental, surrounded
with strange conditions and aluxury that
is very likely unmatched in the world.
He is an eager sportsman and one of the
most daring tiger hunters in India 1t
takes but little less than SIC, 600, O0Oto
maintain his establishment for year.
The cost of maintaining the court of
Queen Victoria is about one-fourth as
much.
"Hc entertains on marvellous scale,
and his wealth is lavished in every direc-
ton. He is the mightiest Of oil Indian
princes, and mobiles Of absolute power in
their own provinces compose his court.
The banquets which he loves to give are
of singular magnifcence. The service is
of solid gold. The surroundings are of
Oriental splendor. The guests are robed
in the finest of silks and adorned with
jewels, any one of which is worth for
tune. The Nizams own robe eclipses
them all. Made of snow-white silk, it
glistens with hundreds of jewels. Ropes
of pearls are about his neck and arms.
Precious stones and strings of emeralds
adorn his dress. The buttons are i'm
| ,,onso ,oo,,lc cot -, 1;n,onpIS H.. a,a.
ence seems to take one back to the fabu.
lous times of the Arabian Knights. He
lives for pleasure alone. The immense
revenues, six millions sterling, which
every year his subjects give, are his
pocket money. His existence is one Of
enjoyment.
"Yct he cannot marry. Though above
the law in all else, he dare not violate
that decree Of the country which forbids
him wife.
"Hyderabad is about the last strong
hold of feudalism in the world For
spectacular interest. for d strange bar
barrie. ancient aspect it is perhaps the
most fascinating place in the world 1t
is essentially town Of the past, pre-
serving the wonderful features of the
ancient Orient unbroken. Standing
on the bridge we see below us the
shallow waters of the river that divides
the town. In the distance are the nina
rets and the gables Of the ancient build
ings, the crowded, narrow streets through
which curious throng winds its way.
Here and there we see the elephant with
gay trappings conveying some great
noble to his home. All are armed and
all are dressed, u motley crowd, in the
picturesque garb of the Orient.
Below us the dabobie, the washerman
flaps his dirty clothes in the waters Of
the river, two or three elephants sport
idly in the water, q troop of camels
pass slowly from shore to shore. The
scene OF so many various details is q
strange one that think cannot be dupli-
Gated in the world.
''In the city is the main palace Of the
Nizam, where closely guarded he keeps
his jewels. Extraordinary treasures
they are. There are thousands Of emer-
aids, pearls and precious stones Of al
most every kind. 1t seems as if the
wealth of King Solomon's mines were
before US. saw them all. They make
perhaps the greatest collection Of Jewels
inthe world, worth $3O,000,OOO. When
had seen them l asked their princely
owner to allow me to look upon the Nj
Fam, the largest diamond ever found
He took it from its place in an ordinary
green case. He carefully opened the
box, slowly unwound dirty looking
cloth, and placed in my hand great
crystalline slug as big as champagne
glass, and worth just $4OOO,OOO. it was
the Nizam diamond. It weighs about
40 carats, and is very much larger than
any other diamond on earth. From one
side large piece has been broken nndcr
curious circumstances.
"The story Of how the diamond was
discovered is a strange one. A native
workman Of Portugal used to see it CLEAN
ing from clay bank. AS he came and
went from work it shot it's flashing fires
in Il mysterious way. He thought it the
devils eye, for it shone at night. He
consulted q holy Brahlnin, who was taken
to the spot.
"'You did we'll to tell me, declared the
serious injury.
1.-The stone was dug from the bank,
but the Brahmin was not sure it was a
diamond. He seized hammer, and with
blow smashed q small part Of it in frag-
ments. The larger stone was sold to the
grandfather Of the present Nizam for a
lac Of rupees.
"The Nizam, with his immense rcvc-
nues, can well afford to spend millions
for precious stones. Why he does so is,
| think. quite as interesting as the fact
that he does. Ever since the first con
vulsion among the native princes Of India
it has been their custom to put their
wealth i'll as portable a form as possible.
They buy jewels and gold.
"A neighbor to the Nizam, the Mahar-
ajah OF Gwalior, had $2O,O0O,OOO in gold
packed between the floors of his palace.
Fear has prompted them to this habit
and fear maintains the custom. Not
that they are dissatisfied with English
rule, tor they are as contented as any
race can he uninr tha 1on,;n,+;o,, oe