The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-02
RICHES OF THE PERSIAN SHAH.
How $7o,0OO,OOO Was Accumulated by
the Late Monarch.
F~ortnightly Review

Fortnightly Review.
The vast wealth in jewels and specie left
new one. and els, 600, 600 is not too high an
estimate OF its worth, the great globe of
gold incrusted with huge gems being VAL
ued at &l,O00,0O0, while the historical dia-
mond, the Deryah-i-Nur, or Sea of Light,
and a vast treasure of gems, cut and un-
cut. among which are strings of perfect
pearls as big as spdrrowS eggs, form
part of the largest and most valuable COL
lection of precious stones in the world:
these and the cellars full of coined gold.
mostly English sovereigns and Russian
imperials, and bars and ingots of pure gold,
all pass with the bejeweled peacock throne,
the spoil of the conqueror Nadir, to the
fortunate Mozaffer-ed-Din, who commences
world.
late Shah wrung by tyranny from his
ryots; he was able to accumulate vast
sums in what is considered in Persia a
perfect legitimate manner. Just prior to
the Persian new year the annual changes
In the provincial governorships were made.
and then the gna of the Kingdom
for place and power. The actual cash
value of the revenue Of each province or
district in a normal year. was pretty well
known; this sum had TO be paid or guar
anteed to the King; in addition a present,
We should call it a bride, had TO be laid
at his Majesty's feet.
If the harvest was likely to be good, If the
province should remain tranquil, the profit
from surplus TcNGnueS WOulQ pTODdDly Uc
large, and the Kings Governor would have
a good chance of reaping a rich harvest. of
being retained in office, of receiving a dress
of honor, and a sort of social promotion by
means of a high-sounding title. as sword
of the State pillar OF the Kingdom"
Shadow of the King which latter is the
among the high sounding ones in present
use; the recipient ceases to bear his ordln-
airy name and is universally known for life
by his title. Some of these Oriental lie
peerages carry a title which, in Western
eyes, is almost comic. One Mira RIA. an
Finger of the Province" In Persia, how
ever. a title means a great deal, and con.
on the Contrary. trade was languishing. or
a drought threatened-and once during the
writer's stay in Persia no rain fell Tor
two years-the amount OF the present OF,
fered for him Majesty's acceptance would
be considerably lessened. and at lines,
when a province was much disturbed. no
one would be daring enough to make an
offer for a post the possession OF wnich
might result in severe .pecuniary loss 10
the purchaser, and possibly punishment IN
the shane of a fine of many thousand
tonans, degradation, or the b~astinado; Tor
in Persia even the Kings sons are ilaoie TO
be beaten with sticks on the soles OF tneir
feet at the will of the Shah. The punish
ment is painful; a man may even die under
il or be famed for life; but. like a birching
at a public school,, 1t conveys no loss Oh
personal reputation.
At such times the King OF Persia was
compelled to ran BACK upon d stronS Wv
ernor, some great nobleman or royal per
sonage, to whom fear or mercy was alike
unknown, some terror to evil-doers. Such
a man was the late
tthe Sharp Sword of the State), the late
kings uncle. At first the strong. Governor
would cocuet; he was i'll, he was BUILDING a
new house, he was growing old, he wished
TO retire from public affairs. Then the
Shah would offer TO forego the customary
present; this would be respectfully de-
clined. and at length a greater or less pro-
portion of the revenue would be actually
RENTED, and the strong Governor with fuii
powers and a regiment or two, would start
for the disaffected or starving province.
on his arrival he orders a Jail delivery and
a wholesale execution OF malefactors, the
bastinado is kept going continually on the
feet Of minor oTenders, CRIMINALS are
blown from guns, or executed and their
highway robbers are walled up alive in
brick pillars: and in a few weeks tran
quillity reigns, the villagers can till their
fields, crimes of violence cease. caravans
can travel without a guard, and the mer-
chant and shopkeepers feel safe in bazaars-
They call me cruel,'' said the HiSSam-
es-Sultaneh to the writer; Il am the really
merciful man; look at my last visit to Shi-
first week. and then only two more in a
two years tenure of office, and the Jail
well-n!gh empty There was my predeces-
sor. a merciful man." here his Excellency
cution or two every week. and the people
died in the Jail from overcrowding. Bah.
What does an Ecliaut robber care about
being executed in the ordinary manner? !
in a pillar; his friends can actually see his
whitening bones in the latter case. and
they keep Quiet-Of course they do, for they
know that / will stand no nonsense" The
ernor; evil-doers trembled at his name. In
Persia such men are a cruel necessity.