Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-17

treasure, there is good foundation In fac
for Kipling's story of the white cobrt
guarding a scintillating mass of jewels
When the English captured Delhi in thu
mutiny days the chief loot sought fol
was the last Mogul's regalla. But. though
every likely place was ransacked and many
natives who were presumed to know some
thing about it were put through a severe
third degree" the more valuable part lies
undiscovered.
During those times q famous ruby and
an equally famous pearl necklace disap-
peared under unusual circumstances. Tit
ruby, which was then valued at $500, 00C
and which today would be worth twice az
! much, belonged to the Mana Sahib Of In
famous memory. The stone was an heir
loom IN his family, and concerning 1t g
Brahmin had prophesied that as long a.
the Mana retained It in his possession
he would never suffer capture by his enc
mics. The prophecy came true, for though
every outlet was guarded and the whole
country searched over. he was never Sc
cured to pay the penalty OF his crimes
When deserted by, his companions he was
flying to the jungle at the foot of the
Himalayas. with the ruby still wrapped in
a fold of his turban. It is, therefore. not
lmDTODuDibf luht bOuO aog aGOSANO NAbbAh6
a trench or a we'll may unearth a human
skeleton, beside whose bleached skull will
be found this priceless ruby.
story of a NeckIace.
OF the famous pearl necklace which dts
appeared at the SAM period a long story
might be told. But, In brief. 1t originally
formed a part OF the imperial regalia of
Portugal, until It came into the possession
of the family whose chief is the maharaja
of GwalioF, at present q star visitor In
England and who proposes touring the
United States. At the time Of the hunt
ing the maharaja Of Gwalior was friendly
to the British and this brought down upon
him the wrath Of the redoubtable princess
Of JhansL the great Indian Joan Of Arc.
In a pitched battle she routed the maharaja
and then seized his city, fortress and
palace, containing q vast treasure. Amid
the latter was the famous necklace, which
the beautiful but terrible princess at once
appropriated TO her own use. In the sub
sequent battle with the British 1t is said
she wore the necklace. Romance also tells
thai when mortally wounded she broke the
strings and gave to each Of her officers a
pearl as a keepsake. But whether this is
true or not. the maharaja never recovered
his necklace. and the present holder Of the
title is deprived Of the satisfaction Of
dazzling London society BY wearing the
principal heirloom Of his family. The
necklace was said to be worth $4,000 o
In comparatively recent years a mag
nihcent pear-shaped emerald disappeared
when the countess Of Dudiey's Jewels were
spirited away from the waiting room Of a
London railway station. Upon such faith
as may be placed In the delirious state
ment Of q man who wandered into An Aus
tralian back country station. dying Of thirst,
It Is supposed the gem was carried out to
that country and lies hidden somewhere in
the bush.
But America Is not without a lost gem OF
fabulous size. Where Il that emerald re-
ferred to by PiEarro as the Goddess Of
Emeraldsl Pizarro says Il was as large as
an ostrich egg and was Worshiped BY the
PeruviAns. to whom It was shown by the
high priest on great festivals only. To dis
cover that emerald would surely equal the
finding OF Captain Kids treasure.