The Alaska citizen., 1911-12-04
ROYAL PAIR ARE
OFF FOR INDIA

LONDON. Oct 81 The alarro
list story of which many English
new spapers made the most, that ow-
ing to the drought in India. the visit
of King George and Queen Mary
would have to be cancelled was very
promptly denied, and that by the
king himself There never was even
suggestion at court OF canceiling
the trip. There will not even be
curtailment of show at Delhi, as has
also been suggested.
The visit Of King George and
Queen Mary, according to letters
from India. is being looked forward
to with interest that cannot properly
be described. The rajahs are to have
the time of their lives. Every jewel
and trinket that lies hidden in
their ceffers is to be brought to
light India is to glitter as it never
glittered before No one. save the
discontinued Indian student, has any
adequate idea OF the wealth of In
dia
The Gaekwar CT Baroda has three
famous stones in his possession, the
Star of the South the "Akbar
Shah" and the Eugene" The first
weighs 1875 carats and is a Brazilian
crystal of the first water. In the
rough it weighed 254 carats, and the
Gaekwar is said to have given $500.
600 for it when cut.
Other Fabulous Gems.
The Maharajah of Patiala still
| owns the famous Sancy diamond, a
stone which has had checkered
| career From Charles the Bold, Duke
OF Burgundy. Emanuel, King of Per
tugal and Nicholas de Marlay, Sieur
de Sancy. who gave to it is name,
| it seems 10 have passed through the
hands at one time or another of
King James II of England. who fled
with it and others Of the crown
! jewels in 1888. of Louis XIV. Of
| Louis XIV, Of Napoleon. Of Napol-
cons brother Joseph, King Of Spain,
| Prince Demidoff, and of the Mahara
! jah of Patiala 1t weighs a trifle
more than SO carats
| Another stone that has found its
way back to India in recent years
! is the Agra diamond. Some IL years
! ago il formed the subject OF a cur
! ious law suit in London. 1t is OF
| exquisite form and rose color, and is
about 35 carats in weight.
! At the 1903 durbar the blaze of
diamonds surprised even the Indian
| princes themselves. They had not
realized their neighbors' wealth, and
some jewels, highly priced, seemed
but of little consequence there. The
Maharajah OF Darbhanga was wear
ing the "Naulakha," the famous
| $3.50, 900 necklace that Jang Bahadur
regent and marshal of Napal, took
from the terrified fugitive Mana Sa-
hib
Vast Riches IN Pearls.
The pearls of Gwalior are famous,
but it is seldom that the extreme
ly modern taste OF Scindia cares &c
put them on. Besides, a necklace OF
irtn IF narfart1V
matched pearls as large as filberts
the Prince Of Gwalior wears on state
occasions a curious sash of crimsol
velvet depending from his left Shout
der to his right knee, the material
of which is almost hidden by SIM
lar stones.
The only native chief who can
| call" Scindia in the matter OF pearls
is perhaps the Maharaiah of Travan,
core. His dominions abut on the
Ceylon pearl fisheries for one thing.
and for another, he claims the
throne of female descent. These two
| advantages endowed the maharajah
with a parure of pearls with which
the finest European set cannot for
moment be compared.
Thousands of elephants are being
massed for the display, beautifully
decorated howdahs, some Of them
of silver. are being furnished for the
broadbackas. jeweled trappings made
for their caparisou. and in the
procession of Dacca. Michil, and OF
Dassera, visitors to India will see
revived the costliest splendors OF
legendary Hindu sovereigns. Out of
the stables of maharajah's palaces
will emerge wonderful silvergilt
chariots that did everyday duty when
automobiles were undreamed Of. and
these are to enhance the dazzle OF
the mile long procession OF elephants
clothed from trunk to tail in gems
of great price.
Not only are the English and veal
thy colonials planning to peep at the
durbar festivities, but hundreds Of
Americans are seeking lodgings and
invitation to the historic ceremony,
Undeterred by the expense Of travel
and accommodation, they are deter
mined to procure a place at Delhi
when the kingemperor arrives in
December in the ancient capital OF