New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-01

property OF his successor Thus the treasure
ieft at death by every Sultan who has reigned
since the fall Of the Byzantine Empire in 1853
Is intact, immured in each case in his tomb
"hch is protected from violation by supersti-
ton and by the dread Of sacrilege. Perhaps
among the most unique treasure that lies thus
entombed is the most celebrated diamond in
'he world, namely. the one which the Mogu
Emperor Baber Khan captured at Agra in 1526
ana which weighs GU karats. Sultan Mahmoud
caused this priceless jewel to be ser IN his cs
eter, which bore the name of Zulphagar and
inasmuch AS Zulphagar was buried beside the
body Of its master along with all his other
treasures. this famous diamond has been en-
tombed ever since Mahmoud's death in 17a3;
that is to say. for more than century and
half When one pictures to himself these &C
cunulations Of treasure lying there in the old
seraglio beside the rottng collins and crumbling
skeletons Of all this long line Of Turkish Sui
tans. one can hardly feel surprised at the eager
ness which the Russians have manifested
ever since the day Of Peter the Great to obtain
possession OF Constantinople
The author Of this species Of pceraCc or hand
book Of multi millionaires would find considcra-
bic difficulty too. in persuad'ag either Ii Hung
Chang or the Empress Dowager Of China to in
form him Of the value Of their possessions. The
furs alone of Ii Hung Chang are stated to rep
resent about 100000. while the Empress
Dowager Of China, having made use Of her long
term Of regency to amass wealth. is reputed
both In London and in st. Petersburg TO he to-
day the richest person in the world. No Chinese
multi-mlionare however. would be 50 ndf-
ferent to his safety as to give any details as to
his wealth. lest the knowledge might lead the
authorities at Picking to decree it's connscaton.
Indeed no only ('tinauan that no yVrifar car
remember who was not afraid TO let the extent
OF his wealth be known was old Whampoa. 10y
far the richest inhabtant OF Singapore. And y
he did not consider it necessary to conceal his
fortune. or to affect perjury II only because
he fel: assured Of the protection Of the laws OF
the English colony in which he made his home.
His fortune al the lowest estimate amounted
TO about $50 000.0 900. and he controlled nearly
the entire Chinese trade Of the Penang PENN
sula- He was a most hospitabe old fellow, and
never so happy as when showing European Wis
itors around his superb gardens. miles In ex-
tent. Just outside Singapore, and filled with ali
the botanical and horticultural treasures that
can exist in a tropical climate. his Victoria
regias and his orchids. in particular. being un-
rvalled His house or rather palace. stand
ing in the midst OF this enchanted garden. was
in every respect in keeping with the latter. and
Of picturesque. gorgeous and yet tasteful med
ley Of magnificent ebony furniture Of priceless
Jade Of matchless worries lacquers and hronzes.
In fact no European museum can boast such
art treasures Of the orient. He was very
charitable in his way. and England had shown
her appreciation Of his philanthropy by con
ferring upon him a knichthood Of the order of
St. Michael and 81. George. while Russia had IN
vested him with the honors Of Consul-General.
the duties Of which. however were performed by
a Russian vce-consul.
FORTUNES N RUSSIA
In Russia, too there are fortunes which are
incalculahle mainly by reason Of the fact that
as in the case Of the DemidoNs and the You
soupoTs. they consist to a great extent Of valu-
able mines. only portion OF which have az
yet been developed and exploited 40 list Of
millionaires would be complete without their
names and yet neither they nor the managers
Of their estates could by any possibility form
an estimate Of their wealth, SO colossal s H.
In fact the project Of compiling Golden
Book" Of the aristocracy ~ wealth Of the
known world in anything ike complete form
would he attended by such insuperable difficult
ties that its author would DO wei 10 abandon
the scheme at the very outset before wasting
any more trouble and time in the matter. There
IL either Syrians or Hebrews at Bagdad Da-
rnascus. and even In Bombay. whose wealth
rivals and In many cases surpass"s that Of the
Rothschilds. and yet whose names are ALSO
utely unknown IN Europe one ~ tn" least
important Of these firms is that OF Sassoon. the
only one with which nnanc"rs in Germany.
France and England acquainted.
And yet a few lines bearing the magic name
o, Sassoon constitute a far more cGicaclous
safc-conduct to any European traveller IN the
widest regions OF Asia and - Africa than the
most elaborate passport If Car German En-
peror or British Queer more efhcacious. IN
deed than great armed escorts Not one Of
these Damascus. Bagdad and Bombay bankers
vculd be wiling 10 give any Information a.
10 the extent Of their wealth. which no on"
would guess from the shabby nature ~ their
a,tir4 nor yet from the pove'ty-s'rickcn ap-
pearance Of their dwellings and places Of bust
| moss.
In fact II may be taken as a general rulr
throughout Asia. Northern Africa and also In
Europe 70 a far greater degree than am one
would b. willing 70 imagine that IN" men who
posscss the greatest wealth wealth beside
which even some Of the largest American for
tunes are dwarfed-are precisely those who
make the least show. and who the least
known as multi mionalrcs to the public, and
who are in fact. the very quictcst and least
snowy Of birds on the duck pond.
EX-ATTACIE.
CITY PRECINCTS REDIS7RICTED.