Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-05-16
A RAJAH'S TREASURE
BY c. B. LEWIS.

BY C. B. LEWIS.
Six or seven years previous to the out
breAk Of the Indian mutiny the rajah Of
the province of Gwallor was dethroned for
treason to the English. He had long been
a ruler over one of the largest provinces in
India and was known to be one Of the
wealthiest in the empire. He had an
army Of 1900 men, a herd of 900 elephants
and lived in a style no European monarch
could approach. While protesting to be
friendly to the English he plotted against
them, and when this was discovered steps
were taken to curtail his powers. His
army was reduced to a bodyguard of 100
men. His right to issue edicts and make
local laws was abrogated. English civil
officers were stationed here and there to
collect the taxes, and the proud and pow
erful rajah held only his empty title. He
bowed to the terms imposed by a superior
force, but became one of the bitterest foes
the English had to deal with and was first
and foremost in bringing about the mu-
tiny. The date of the outbreak was known
by the deposed rajah weeks in advance.
1t was afterward charged that he set the
date himself. AT any rate he was so well
prepared that his troops were almost the
first in the field against the English. Al
though his army had been disbanded for
three or four years, he had secretly pur-
chased and stored away large amount Of
equipment, and for two months previous
to the outbreak he was secretly enlisting
and arming his subjects.
Two weeks before the uprising the rajah
made preparations to secure the safety Of
the great treasure. In his palace, 80 miles
from Gwallor, he had Il secret chamber, in
which. the wealth had been stored for three
generations. No European had ever set
foot in the palace, but it was currently re-
ported that the value of the gems and
jewels, many of which had been handed
down from his great-grandfather, aggre.
gated $40, 000, 900. 1t was afterward be-
lieved that this sum was too small by half.
One day tho rajah left his palace with an
escort Of ten of his Oldest and most trusted
soldiers, and each soldier had charge of a
packhorse carrying a share of the treasure.
His band travelled to the northwest for two
days and then halted amid the ruins Of an
ancient city between the town of Jeypore
and the river Ganges. So much was
learned years after. Atthe end of five days
the rajah returned to his palace, accom-
panied only by a servant who had acted az
cook. This servant was locked in a dun
geon and never seen again. No one dared
to ask what had become of him or the SOL
diers, and If any n suspected that the
rajah had removed his treasure from the
palace he wisely kept his thoughts to him.
self, well knowing what would follow a
word Of gossip.
Two months after the rajah had taken
the field against the English at the head
of a thousand men he was killed In battle.
A month later his palace was captured,
looted Of such treasure as the soldiers
fancied and then destroyed by fire and ex-
plosion. The treasure room was found by
the soldiers, but 1t was empty. From
some Of the servants 1t was learned how
and when the wealth had been removed,
but 1t could not be searched for until the
rebellion had been put down. During the
mutiny the soldiers were permitted to loot
right and left, but when peace came the
government reserved the right to search
for all treasure hidden away. But little
has ever been written III this subject,
though 1t is a fact beyond cavil that
money, gems and other things, valued at
tens Of millions Of dollars, were recovered
and turned into the government treasury.
No sooner was the civil government at
Gwallor in working order than a party in
charge Of an official was started out tc
search for the rajah's treasure. BY this
time not a soldier or servant who knew
onufhiyoup IF %ho rnof<ow nnr,1l 1o fc,,,.l
It was simply known that the party had
gone away to the northwest. After several
days search the treasure hunters came
upon the ruins, and thinking the spot to
be a likely place they began work. Here
was a space of half a mile square Of stand
ing and fallen walls, with trees and bushes
and vines growing in the greatest profu-
| sion. and a thousand safe spots in which
to hide the treasure. The party, which
numbered 4 Englishmen and go natives,
went to, work, however, and it was five
months before they quit In despair. They
reported to the government that 1t would
take q thousand men fully two years to
clear away the debris.
Soon after It had become generally
known that the party had given up the
search a native was arrested at Delhi
charged with the murder Of two European
women at the outbreak Of the .mutiny.
| When he was put on trial, an English en-
sign testified In his behalf and proved that
1t was a case Of mistaken identity. As
soon as the native wAs released from Gus.
tody he went to his preseryer and declared
that he was one of the rajah's soldiers who
took away the treasure. 1t was buried in
the ruins, he said, and when the work had
been finished the rajAh gave the party sew
eral bottles Of wine to drink to his health.
This wine was poisoned. Every man who
partook Of 1t except this one died within
two hours. He was made very i'll and
simulated death to escape the rajah's dag
ger.
When the cold blooded ruler departed,
leaving the dead TO be devoured by boasts
Of prey, the sole survivor crawled away,
and after q time recovered and made good
his escape. He fought against the Eng
lish to the last, but was ready to divide
the hidden treasure with the mar who had
saved bis life. just at this time the gov
eminent offered S5 per cent to finders Of
treasure, and the officer and native pro-
oeeded to Jeypore and made up . party.
In due time they reached the ruins, but
only to flnd the treasure gone. The native
pointed out the spot where IL had been con.
osaled, aud there was no doubt Of his We
racity, but some q had removed the
wealth. Al IL had been taken away dur.
ing the war y was almost useless % hops