The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-20
THE JEWELS OF ROYALTY.
Rare Specimens Collected by the
worlds MOnarchs.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
Large gems have always had a great
charm to the Orientals, who have al
ways paid more for them than the Euro
peans. The Orient hides within her jeal-
ousy guarded palaces many fine collec-
lions of jewels. The Nizam of Hydera-
bad owns the Victoria diamond, for, which
he paid $1,000 900. The Maharajah of Tan
jore is likewise possessed of a rich store
Of gems, many of them rare and curl
GUS The Maharajah of Baroda paid 500.
900 for the 125-karat Star of the South, and
also bought the 225-karat pale yellow De
Beers diamond exhibited at the 1889 ex-
position.
According to the testimony Of S. G. w.
Benjamin, at one time United States min
lister to Persia, the late shah had a very
remarkable collection of gems, estimated
to be worth between $4,000, 600 and S15,-
100000, but It Is almost impossible to get
reliable information about them, so close
ly are they guarded. The same may be
said of the sultan of Turkeys collection,
valued at over 100000.
When the English took possession of
the palace of King Theebaw at Manda-
lay, Burmah, they searched eagerly for
the fabulous treasures which it was sup
posed this Oriental monarch possessed.
They were doomed to disappointment
! Nothing of any special value was found,
the far-famed jewels consisting of a mis-
cellaneous set of poor emeralds and ru-
| bies Many of them were of large size,
| but so inferior in quality that the Eng
| lish regalia could not be enriched by ad-
| ding any of them. So little are they val
ued that they are now exhibited in glass
cases in the Indian museum in London.
| Many of these Oriental collections ac-
| cording. to Sir Edwin Arnold and other
! Oriental travellers, are kept in isolated
| rooms. Sometimes the gems are wrapped
| in rags, or concealed in ginger jars, old
! boxes, and out-of-the-way places, so that
even an intimate visitor may be a guest
/ for weeks and only occasionally see a
/ Jewel, and only when he has the entire
/ confidence of his host are the treasures
| shown one at time.
| OF all the costly wonders that the paIace
/ of the mogul emperors at Delhi contain
/ ed, the most wonderful and the most
costly was the peacock throne. This was
! instructed during the reign Of Shah Je-
| han, and was the work of a Frenchman.
| Austin, Of Bordeaux, who had sought ref
! uge at the moguPs court. 1t was estima-
! Jed that the value OF the throne was
| t6,O00OO0 sterling. 1t stood in the center OF
| the beautiful hall of private audience, and
! was named after the figures of two pea
| cocks standing behind It, their tails being
! expanded, and the whole so inlaid with
sapphires, rubies, emeralds, pearls, and
other precious stones of appropriate col
oIs as 10 represent life, The throne itself
! was six feet long by four feet wide; il
ffCoSCo On FIX HlassiiEs IeSti Wnlcn, with the
body, We're OF solid gold inlaid with ru-
bies, emeralds, and diamonds. 1t was sur
mounted by a canopy of gold supported by
! twelve pillars, all richly emblazoned with
! costly gems, and a fringe of pearls orna-
mented the border Of the canopy. Be
| tween the two peacocks stood the figure
Of a parrot of ordinary size, said to have
been carved out of a single emerald. on
each side of the throne stood an umbrella,
one OF the Oriental emblems of royalty.
Lney We're formed of crimson velvet
| lhlckly embroidered and fringed with
pearls, the handles. eight feet high. being
Of gold, studded with diamonds 1t has
| been held that the famous Kohinoor was
Lone Of the jewels thar ornamental the