The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-06-15
PRICELESS JEWELS.
Belonging to theRajahs of India Are
 the Envy of the World. M :

Belonging to theRajahs of India Are the Envy of the World. s. Some things there are in this world the potential American dollar cannot buy, and which even the influence of European royalty is powerless to win. Among them are the priceless sets of jewels belonging to the rajahs of h. dia. Many of these princes of the East have sets of gems which represent a value unheard of outside the Orient, and beside the most famous collections of the crowned heads of Europe or of the families of our American million aires sink into insignificance. s It is not likely that q white man will ever wear these treasures unless they l come to him as the spells of war. It is against the most sacred traditions of the rajahs to part with their family heirlooms. Fabulous prices have been offered them for single jewels or orna- ments out of their vast supplies. But gold has no power to tempt them where their jewels are concerned. The pearls and diamonds belonging to the Rajahof Dhoplur first are among all these costly collections. They form the most valuable set of jewels in exis- tence. One million dollars was offered to the raiash for the single string of large pearls about his neck. The offer was refused. Each of these pearls is lsaid to be absolutely without flaw, of perfect purity and lustre.
 Every jewel in the twelve great ropes 1 of pearls hanging down from the | neck is worth a small fortune in itself. Those in the four ropes across the left shoulder, though small in comparison with their companions, are really of good size and great value. Diamonds are interpersed with pearls in the inerus- tations of the helmet, which is literal- 1 ly covered with genis It is impossible to even approximate the total value | of this wonderful heirloom of the rajahs of Dholpur. It is priceless.
 Far less showy, but scarcely inferior 1 in value, is the family inheritance of the Rajah of Gwalior His is a wealth of emeralds. The three bands of im- mense stones which, intersperced 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 off, set, in his mind, by what they would lose in size. The value of each of the !
 large stones is about $5O,0O0. . l The strips of gold embroidery upon i the robes of this Indian prince are set l with many emeralds of a smaller size. The epaulets which hang from the shoulders down over the arms, are ! incrusted with extraordinarily large stones surrounded with pearls.
 The color--or one might almost call l it cape--worn by the Rajah of Baroda l is 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 described. The lighter stones are set off by borders of the darker emeralds, those forming a fringe around the lower edge being of immense size and value. Scarcely less beautiful is the tassel of pearls which hangs from the left side of the rajahs turban. Each string in the tassel re- presents a fortune. In each the pearls have been carefully graded as to size, and each is tipped with pompon of silk. The cap of jewels which covers the rajah's silk turban is mass of various gems to match his collar. The edge is formed of diamond pendants.
 Five great ropes of pearls, priceless 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, are strung other gems, the better to display their beauty. At ter his pearls the rajar prizes most the nine large diamonds which hang from his gold coronet. That in the centre particularly is of great size and
 beauty
 Particularly odd and effective is the
 use to which the Rajah of Punnah has put the thousands of pearls gathered by generations of his ancestors. He has used them to embroider his robes of state Over the shoulders, down the sleeves and around the edges of the robe te pearls have been woven with silk and gold into beautiful and intri- cate designs.-Detroit Tribune, s