The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-07
Bosion stock Market.
INDIA's HOAmDED WEALTH.
Millions of Gold Bricked Up I'm Sc
cret Vaults.

During the first decade of my residence
In india, relates d. correspondent Of the
Springfield Republican, / was FOR some
years associated with a wealthy banker
named Lalla Muttra Pershaud, the Lahore
agent OF the great banking house known
as THE Seths of Muttra.' and from him
! learned a great deal about the system OF
boarding practiced in all ages by the
wealthy classes in India. He died at Balm
dabun about 1867 1t may be explained
that the title "Laila" used by native bank
ers has no exact equivalent in English.
IL might with equal propriety be trans
lated master. professor or banker.
Both IN ancient and modern times one
OF the stock objections Of European ma
lions against trade with India mas been
that that country absorbs large amount
OF the precious metals, which Ii never dis
gorges. II has naturally been asked what
becomes Of these treasures, for we do not
fad in India that abundance OF either gold
or silver which might naturally be expect
ed, and the reply has always been that
they are Withdrawn from circulation as
currency by being boarded. For ages it
has been a prevalent opinion in all East
ern countries that there is vast amount
OF treasure hidden IN the earth, which.
unless found by accident. is lost TO man.
When up country last year l heard that
Chowringhee Lalla. manager 10 Lalla
Muttra Pershaud. already mentioned. was
in Gwalior on some temporary business.
and called on him. an old friend, at
place in the Lashkar, where he was re-
siding. Among other subjects We discuss
ed the action OF the government in closing
the minis and | asked his opinion about
the possibility of gold standard for In
dia, and mentioned the fact that certain
members Of the Currency Association con-
sideyed that 95060.0n OF gold would be
sufficient to provide Ind!s with cur
- 10
and assured me that G5G.0e1.o0e would not
suffice 70 replace the silver boards of even
one state You know, ha said, how
anxious the late Maharajah Scindia was
10 get back the fortress or Gwalior. hut
very few know the real cause prompting
him That was concealed hoard OF sixty
crores (Gs00l9. 900 Of rupees in certain
vaults within the fortress over which the
British sentinels had been walking for
about thirty years. never suspecting the
wealth concealed beneath their feet. Long
before the British government gave back
the fortress every one VINO knew the en-
trance into the concealed hoard vas dead,
except ore man. who was extremely ola,
and although In good health, ne might
hava atea anv day II that had happened
the treasure might have been lost 10 the
owner forever and the world for ages.
because there was only one entrance 20
me hoard. which vas most cnHn.nsiy oSD-
celled and, except that entrance, every
other part 8r8s surrounded by SOLID rock
50 the nsahaTajah Was IN such TX mat
he must either get back his fortress or
slv.,.ge the seere: 20 the government and
-1,y ths. risk Of losing the treasure forever
when the fortress " AS given back TO the
ruaharasaa and before the British troops
had left Gwalt0r territory r98sons were
brought from Bensres. sworn 10 secrecy
IN the Temple OF the Holy Cow. before
D - 81 rs = y
i3r railway station they we're put into
carriages. bJlndfolded AID driven 10 the
p.gca where they had To work There
they were keft tll3 glvy had opened out
IA. entrance into the secret vault, an4,
when the concealed hoard rad been verb
fed. and the hole b1siit up again. they
were ovce more bfGdfo.tsd. put into car
RACES and taken back 20 the railway sta
ton ard rebooked FOR Benares under a
proper escort
ChowringHes LaEa weat en- 20 tel ne
that for generations before The rise OF
the BrtssA rcwer his ancestors had heid
mo post o. treasurer ~ the Gwailor state.
ara that, after the British had annexed
territories around Delhi. one OF hIs great
grand uuc.es had retired from tae post
% treasurer q G~4Iio- w.th a fortune ~
twenty cr3Yes q rupees e. tso as@i. fly
great 600! fortune. all this money was
quietly got iu1o hrltlSh territory. he d.
clsred ard AfEeea cfores % a are AZ this
CAV 5~icktd up n a secret vault under a
linda temple dedicated 10 the goddess -
wealth IN tae hoy city % HE.D1a bun.
Non. SAID tao la.la. 'sf lie treasurer
could accumulate - much. What wefe
Ia accommodations &C thc state KY 20
hee Tae treasures % Cavalier form but
2 very small au00at compared wtfn the
tc1a} e ,he k11wD concealed wealth q
India. AL the silver would be brought sat
IA rH~
fnert ieerced geld currency f3r India
I've hundred millions q gold aauis Be
sbsarae1 ana concealed before a gold car
eqnM LII asrn ixeIve rssnrl.ns l.. esrcslaa-