Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-01
A GREAT TREASURE HOUSE
Wonderful Collections Of Jewels Owned by
Native Indian Princes.
A Single Shawl That Cost Five MIL
Hons - Fortunes Invested in
Pearls and Diamonds.
Prom the st. Louis be-Democrat.

Prom the st. Louis Globe Democrat.
That India, after foreign occupation of
some centuries and in spite of the apparent
poverty of the great bulk of the people, is
still probably the greatest treasure house
on earth is due to the fact that for ages
it was, with Ceylon and Burma, the field
which supplied the rest of the world not
only with gold, costly fabrics and spices,
but with precious stones, the finest speci-
mems of which, however. were ever re-
tanned by the Hindoo and Mogul princes
for their own personal adornment
One of the jewel treasures of the Indian
princes, that of the Gashwar of Baroda, is
perhaps the most remarkable, being APP
praised by experts few years ago at
the immense sum of three hrors of rupees,
OF S15, 200. Among his collection, his
chief diamond necklace, worn on state &C.
casons, contains the Star of the South, "
Brazilian stone weighing 254 carats, for
which 100000 was paid, the whole necklace
being valued at forty laos of rupees, or
$1,000, COO The masterpiece in his posses
sion. however is wonderful shawl COM
posed entirely of inwrought pearls and
other precious stones worked in the most
harmonious and artistic arabesque patterns
and which actually cost the extraordinary
price of s. 900, 600.
This shawl was intended as a present to
cover the tomb of Mohammed, but when it
was finished the Gashwar thought twice
Of the idea and kept it himself. While it
is true that the native jewelers. as a rule
care less for the purity and commercial
value of the stones than for the general
effect produced, yet their artistic feeling
and skill in setting gems, often but poorly
cut and polished. cannot be surpassed.
AS an evidence of this. a comb of match
less workmanship was presented to the
Prince of Wales by the Raja of Jaipur.
Another present which the Prince of Wales
i l.. .-,,,:4
sword from the Maharaja of Kashmir, set
with diamonds and emeraids valued at Sol,
900, in addition to which there was soli
taire diamond in the belt worth $1,000
Probably one of the most expensive hats
ever worn by any person apart from an
actual crown that of Sir Jung Bahia
dur. prime minister to the King of Nepal,
when he paid his formal respects to the
Prince of Wales on the latter entering
the dOmlnionS of Sir lungs master, for in
addition to magnificent headdress of dia-
monds worth over sl00.00D, he Wore in an
aigrette a single ruby the size of mar
bic, presented to him by the Emperor of
China, and of inestimable value.
At The grand darbar. held at Delhi, the
ancient CAPITAL of the NIogul empire when
Queen Victoria was proclaimed kasar-T-
Hind Empress of Iudia), the costumes of
some of the native princes appeared to
have beggared description.
The Maharaja Hoihar for instance pre-
sumably as a small item in respect to the
rest of his attire. wore a certain pair of
gloves made Of delicate gold flexible scale
work, encrusted with diamonds, having in
the center of each back an emerald.
OF single stones the late King of Wis
apur owned two fine rubies. one of which
weighed :D%l caratS, and the other, per-
feet, HAWKES. stone. liz. both being valued
re respectively at $4,000 and $1,000 These
stones mysteriously disappeared but should
any one chance to rediseoyer them, they
would, at the present value of rubies. be
worth at least ten times their former price.
Among several stones not accounted of
the first value in the west. the cat S-eye is
a great favorite with orientals, a very fine
specimen being in the possession of the
IsSzam of Haidarabad. which cost So, 600
Pearls are much priced by all the native
princes. the Raja of Travancore having an
embroidered cap or turban of these gems
worth $4,000. while the largest pearl
known. the size of a pear, and practically
unappraisabe, is in the possession of the
Shah of Persia