The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1905-04-28
PRICELESS JEWELS.
Belonging To the RajahS of In
dia Are the Envy of the
World.

of European royalty is powerless to
win. Among them are. the priceless
sets of jewels belonging to the
Rajans of India. Many Of these
Princes of the East have sets Of
gems which represent value I'M
heard of outside the Orient and be-
side which the most famous collec-
tions of the crowned heads 81
Europe or Of the families Of our
American millionaires sink into in
significance.
II is not likely that white man
will ever wear these treasures unless
they come to him as the spoils of
war. II is against the most sacred ira
ditions of the Rajahs to part with their
family heirlooms. Fabulous prices
have been offered them for single
Jewels or ornaments out of their
vast supplies. But gold has no pow
er to tempt them where their jewels
are concerned.
The pearls and diamonds belong
ing to the Rajah of Dholphur rank
first among all these costly collec-
tons. They form the most valuable
set Of jewels in existence. One
million dollars was offered to the Ra-
JAN for the single string of large
pearls about his neck. The offer
was refused. Each of these pearls
is said to.be absolutely without flaw,
of perfect purity and luster.
Every jewel in the II great ropes
of pearls hanging down from the
neck is worth a small fortune in it.
self. Those in the four ropes across
the left shoulders. though small in
comparison with their companions,
are really of good size and great
value. Diamonds are interpreted
with pearls in the incrustations of
the helmet, which Is literally cover
ed with gems. 1t is impossible to
even approximate the total value of
this wonderful heirloom of the Ra-
jahs of Dholphur. 1t is priceless.
Far less snowy, but scarcely infer
Tor in value, is the family inheri-
lance of the Rejah of Gwalior. His
is wealth of emeralds. The three
bands of immense stones which, in
terspersed with numerous smaller
ones. form a broad collar over the
chest and shoulders, are native cut.
Nor will their owner consider the
suggestion that they be recut with
modern skill and methods. What
they might gain in brilliancy by the
operation would be more than Offset,
in his mind, by what they would lose
in size. The value of each of the
large stones is about $50, 900.
The strips of gold embroidery up
on the robes of this Indian Prince
are set with many emeralds of a
smaller size. The epaulets, which
hang from the shoulders down over
the arms, are incrusted with extraor-
dinarily large stones surrounded
with pearls.
The collar or one might almost
call it cape worn by the Rajah of
Baroda is a mass of diamonds and
various precious stones, combined in
rich and wonderful confusion. The
color and brilliancy of this ornament
can better be imagined than de-
scribed. The lighter stones are set
off by borders of the darker emer-
aids, those forming fringe around
the lower edge being of immense
size and value. Scarcely less beau
tiful is the tassel of pearls which
hangs from the left side of this Ra-
jah's turban. Each string in this
tassel represents fortune. In each
the pearls have been carefully grad
ed as to size and each is tipped with
a pompon, of silk. The cap of jew
els which covers the Rajah's silk tur-
ban is mass of various gems to
match his collar. The edge is form
ed of diamond pendants.
Five great ropes of pearls, price
less in value, constitute the chief
treasure of the Rajah of Nizam. A
single pearl from these might well
make it's owner an object of envy.
Among the pearls, here and there,
arc strunp other gems. the better to |