Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-22
PRICELESS JE wells
BELONGING TO THE RAJAHS OF
INDIA ARE THE ENVY OF WORLD.


foH the Dettoil tfipune.
Some things there are In this world the
potential American dollar cannot buy. and
which even the influence OF European roy
atty IS powerless to win. Among them are
| the priceless sets of Jewels belonging to
| the rajahs OF India Many OF these princes
of the east have sets OF gems which repre-
sent value unheard OF outside the orient.
| and beside which the most famous collec-
tons of the crowned heads OF Europe or of
the families OF our American millionaires
sink into nsgniicance
1t is not likely that white man will ever
wear these treasures unless they come 10
| him the spoiIs OF war. 1t 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 ornaments out of their vast sup
plies. But gold has no power to tempt them
where their jewels are concerned.
The pearls and !a-rSais belonging to the
Rajah of Dholpur rank first among all these
costly collections. They form the most
valuable set of jewels in existence. One
million dollars was offered to the rajah for
the single string OF large pearls about his
neck. The offer was refused. Each of
these pearls is said to be absolutely with
out flaw, of perfect purity and luster
Every Jewel In the twelve great ropes OF
pearls hanging down from the neck Is worth
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. Dia-
monds are fnterspersed with pearls in the
! fncrustations of the helmet. which is lit
orally covered with gems. Il is impossible
to even approximate the total value of this
wonderful heirloom of the rajahs of Dhol-
pur. 1t is priceless.
Far less snowy. but scarcely inferior in
value. is the family Inheritance OF tho
Rajah OF Gwalior. His is wealth of EN-
eralds. The three bands of immense stones
which, interspersed 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 meth
DDS. What they might gain in brilliancv
by the operation would be more than offsa.
in his mind. by what they would lose In
size The value of each OF the large stones
Is about $50 600
The strips of gold embroidery upon the
robes OF this Indian prince are set with
many emeralds OF n smaller size The
epaulets which hang from the shoulders
down over the arms are incrusted with ex-
traordinarily large stones surrounded with
pearls.
The collar-or one might almost call It cape
worn by the Rajah of Baroda is mass of
diamonds and various precious stones. COM
bined in rich and wonderful confusion The
color and brlliancy of this ornament can
better be imagined than described. The
lighter stones are set off by borders OF the
darker emeraldS, those forming n fringe
around the lower edge being OF immense
size and value. Scarcely less beautiful is
the tassei of pearls which hangs from tho
left side of the rajah's turban. Each string
in the tassel represents fortune. In each
the pearls have been carefully graded as to
size. and each is tipped with a pompon Of
silk. The cap of jewels which covers the
rajahs silk turban is a 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 its owner an object of
envy. Among the pearls. here and there
are strung otner gems, the better to display
their beauty. After his pearls the rajah
prizes most the nine large diamonds which
hang from his gold coronet. That in the
center particularly Is of great size and
beauty.
Particularly odd and effective Is the use
to which the Ra1ah of Punnah has put the
thousands Of pearls gathered by genera
lions 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 the pearls have been
woven with silk and gold into beautiful
and intricate designs