The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-02-20
GREEDY FOR COLD.
India a GIutton In Swallowing Up
the Yellow Metal.
HOARDS 1T LIKE A MISER TOO.
Millions on Millions In Bullion and
Golden Coins Flow into That coun-
try Every Year, Hardly Any Of Which
Returns or Is Ever Seen Again.

Golden Coins Flow into That Coun
try Every Year, Hardly Any of Which
Returns or Is Ever Seen Again.
I A steady stream of gold has been
j flowing for centuries into India One
might say streams of gold flowing
thence, for since India produces com
paratively little gold herself she lays
the whole world under tribute. Hardly
any Of this gold returns 1t is as If the
earth of India had opened and swal-
lowed it up. The American tourist in
India who parts from sovereign or
a five dollar gold piece may be pretty
certain it will go straightway out Of
circulation and nevermore be seen in
the country of its minting. In one year
alone India has been known to import
over $300,0O0,O0O in bar gold and Eng
lish sovereigns
What has become of this vast ac-
emulation Of cleaning treasure? To
what use Is all this gold put, since In
Ola has not minted gold coinage of
her own for many generations? The
puzzle becomes bit curious when it
is remembered that as whole the
three hundred odd millions of natives
refuse absolutely to- deposit their say
1ngs, gold or otherwise, in banks and
will take no part financially in such
productive enterprises as railroads, ir-
rigation works or factories.
The sharpest and most astute get
lrich-quick bucket shop artist that ever
soaked a gullible occidental public
could no more beguile the mild Hindu
t9abuy a share of stock with the gilt
-terifig promise of thousand point rise
In value than the government has been
able to induce him to invest in solid
guaranteed bonds.
1t has been estimated that '.the visible
boarded wealth Of India in temples,
the treasure chests of princes and in
the jewelry Of the Indian men and
women amounts to $1,SO0, 600 OOO''-a
simple portable treasure that would
look like pretty respectable pile even
for our day and make the old time
buccaneers set sail for India in
hurry. Part Of this any American
tourist can see for himself in such toys
as the two gold cannon of the gaek-
war Of Baroda, each containing $50
pounds of pure gold, and from glimpses
caught Of temple images of solid or
thickly plated gold and blazing with
jewels. AS special favor he may be
permitted to glance within the iron
bound treasure chests Of some high
ness and plunge his arm to the elbow
in ancient gold mohurs.
But this would hardly account for
the greater part of that golden cur
rent set toward India since the begin
ming Of the record. 1t is into the earth
that current sinks, year after year for
hundreds Of them, to be forgotten or
lost trace of in the violent social up
heavals, plaques and famines that have
swept over the country. In India man
has but to relinquish his fight against
the jungle growth for a short space
to result in the tearing down, over
whelming and utter obliteration Of all
his work. Therefore it is scarcely a
flight Of imagination to picture the
black cobra nesting in some hole of
ruined temple masonry stuffed with
gold and jewels or the tiger seeking
q lair in the dazzling throne room OF a
long forgotten dynasty buried in the
jungle.
For the reason of this curious gold
problem Of India apparently one has
not far to seek. Until the English
went to India the country was swept
repeatedly by invasions and conquests
Each newcomer was bent chiefly on
plumber, but If he decided to remain
he set up government in which all
<nfe and property we're his sole and
undisputed possession. The only rights
the conquered Hindus possessed were
those he chose to grant. These con-
sisted principally in providing the con-
Queror with splendid palaces, jewels,
gOrgeously caparisoned elephants, dane
tanners and costly tombs. That is why
the American tourist in India gets a
surfeit Of palaces. temples and tombs
As to the people. they seem to have
come to the conclusion pretty far back
that it was advisable for them never
to display signs of overmuch wealth.
The plundering soldier or tax gatherer
was always at the door, SO apparent
poverty was the best shield of defense.
Besides, as hasty fight was recurrent-
" necessary before the ravaging
armies of Tartar, Afghan and Mogul,
gold and jewels were the easiest forms
OF negotiable security to transport or
hide in the earth In this way Delhi
was sacked and sacked again until
John ireland. the New York traveller,
visiting that city in the middle Of the
eighteenth century. thought Nadir
Shah must have swept it clean of
treasures in his last $200.O0O.O00 raid.
Delhi looked to him poverty stricken
place. Yet a century or SO afterward,
when the British troops stormed it in
the mutiny, the Thomas Atkins Of
Those days was pretty soon seen bar
teTing Jewels for drinks and PLAYING