The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-28

the throne itself was approached were
encrusted with jewels. From the four
corners of the platform rose pillars so
thickly set with pearls that, 1t is said,
one could not insert the point of a
needle between them. These support
ed a northumberland canopy, sur
mounted by a life-size peacock with
wings and tail outspread, a glittering
mass of gems. The actual throne was
ablaze with diamonds, rubies and EN-
eralds, the whole being valued at $780,
100000. Partly shorn of its glory and
worth now a mere $500, 900. the throne
may still be seen in the palace of the
Shah of Persia.
A GrewsOme Love story.
One of the most curious ceremonies
monarch ever underwent was the
yearly weighing of the Mogul Emperor
in gigantic gold scales, first against
gold, then silver, spices, clothes, rice
etc. The various proceeds were sub
sequently given to the priests. This
ceremony took place in a garden pa
vilion in which occurred one Of the
most grewsome love stories of history
And in this place dainty refreshments
will be served to Lord and Lady Cur
IONS guests.
Apart from the incidental fact that
Shah Jahan's domestic circle included
5000 ,concubines, dancing girls and so
forth, he possesses four sons and two
daughters by his wife the beautiful
MumtaZ Mahal, who lies entombed in
the superb mausoleum of the Tai at
Agra. While these children seemed to
have inherited to the full the personal
attractiveness of their mother, they
also inherited all the cruelty and vi
ciousness of their barbaric ancestors.
Sons and daughters so plotted one
against another and all against the
father, that they were justly called a
NEST of scorpions"
According to tradition the Lady
Begun Sahib, or Queen of Princesses,
was little short of an houri, and Shah
Jahan could not bring himself to be-
lieve there was a prince in all the
world worthy to marry her. But the
Princess thought differently. In some
way she had seen and fallen in love
with young noble of the court, a
very high but dangerous honor for the
object of her affections.
Presumably by bribing the eunichs,
the lovers met in the pavilion. There
they passed delightful hours in each
others society before the affair unfor-
tunately reached the ears of Lady
Rauchenara, Begun Sahib's sister
Rauchenara was jealous of Begun Sa-
hib's beauty, her greater influence with
her father, and the young man, as she
herself had fallen in love with him.
So Shah Jahan was told by the appar-
emily much shocked Rauchenara how
his dearly beloved Begun Shah was
conducting a clandestine love affair
under his very nose. in the garden pa
vilion of the Seraglio.
The Emperor Surprises the Lovers.
Shah Jahan was too exalted a being
to admit even the possibility of such
a disgraceful affair in his family. A
daughter of the Moguls in love with
a common noble? Never. But Shah
Jahan did regard it as possible that
the young noble might have ventured
to make overtures to Begun Sahib. So
he decided to sweep the lover and his
family out of existence, as one might
a handful of pestiferous insects, and in
a manner that would leave an impress
sion on the mind OF Begun Sahib.
At their next clandestine meeting
the lovers were surprised by the sud
den approach of the Emperor. All
avenues of escape had been cut off by
guards posted at the Emperor's order,
but before Shah Jahan entered, Be
gum Sahib had time to conceal the
young noble in a large metal caldron.
This caldron stood in an adjoining al
cove and was used for keeping water
for baths.
The Emperor was not 10 be deceived
by his daughters forced composure,
and, glancing around, he shrewdly
guessed that the audscious noble was
concealed IN the caldfon.
With exquisite craft the Oriental pa
rent proceeded 10 yindIcate his out
ragged feelings. Shah JahaH did not
charge his daughter with having a
lover IN eoncealmenf. but, a. usual.
embraced her affecilonafely. ana then
proceeded 70 discuss with hef Inc gossip
~ fhe courf and fhe beauty ~ d cers
tain neckiaee that ha waa having made
fQf heF - 4 present.
N may - that lseRum kailib saW
through AiA niaAh o. perhaps. was ifq