COUNTLESS MILLIONS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3438, 3 March 1932, Page 3

COUNTLESS MILLIONS

INDIA'S FROZEN TREASURE.

STORIES OF FABULOUS .WEALTH OF ORIENTAL PRINCES.

We hear a great deal about the frozen gold in the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States and the Banque de France, but not so much about the frozen treasure of India.

Some of the ruling Indian princes have in the treasure vaults of their fabulous palaces more gold and precious jewels than ever El Dorado saw. An American jewel expert, who was conducted round one' of these Aladdin's Caves by its owner, after recovering from his amazement, turned to his host and said: "This lot would fetch an easy six million pounds—why don't you sell and invest?" The prince considered the matter — one of around £300,0000 a year at low interest. Then he fingered a bowl of rubies, ran them lovingly through his dark fingers, and replied: "I am the guardian of these jewels," adding, artlessly: "Besides, if I sold them, I should not be able to come down here and look at them."

Diamond as Paperweight.

The Indian, whether ruling prince or poor peasant, has his own ideas of banking. The savings of the poorer people always take one of two forms —gold ornaments for the women, or a little cache of gold, usually underground. So rich are some of the ruling princes that they simply do not know the meaning of the word money. One recently came to inspect the world's most luxurious car. He desired certain additions—stronger bodywork, more silver plating, endless gadgets. The salesman beamed. A £4OOO order. He bowed low. "The car shall be delivered without a moment's unnecessary delay," he said. "The car?" The prince raised his eyebrows. "I desire a dozen." Another prince entered a famous gunmaker's in Pall Mall. He wanted a gun, and he wanted it chased and embellished in gold and silver and ivory.

The gunmaker, used to the foibles of rich sportsmen, took the order. "I fear this gun will cost your Highness a lot of money, he warned. "Nearer £SOO than £4OO, I fear." The prince laughed. "Make me six," he said, "I have friends." When the late Nazim of Hyderabad died, his agents made inventories of his possessions. They saw upon the late ruler's ornate writing desk a crystal that had served as a paperweight. It turned out to be an immense uncut diamond^ India loses millions annually because her teeming population declines to conform to western ways and deposit their savings in banks.

And it is only possible to get some idea of the extent of this wealth by little authentic stories that provide now and then a chance clue.

The same potentate who used a king's ransom as paperweight was in the habit of wearing a diamond ring worth a mere £IOOO. One day, in

order to wash, he removed the ring and handed it to a servant.

The lackey, misunderstanding his master's action, broke out into profuse thanks.

The Nazim looked at him m amusement. The poor fool thought it was a gift. Then his Highness gave a shrug. Well, why not? He let him keep the ring. Talking of Oriental splendour, the story of the prince who ordered a special train, but when the time came to start he was otherwise occupied in his harem, is illuminating. Thus two days passed, the amorous prince ordering steam to be kept up. At last he was told he must go. He demurred.

"Was the special train ordered for me, or was I ordered for the special train?" he asked haughtily.

Bottomless Purse.

Before King Amanullah lost the throne of Afghanistan he was rich. He is still worth a bit—a million or two.

During his feted progress through England he visited Sheffield, saw a wounded ex-serviceman and handed him a bank note.

When the lucky recipient opened the crackling piece of paper, he was staggered to see the figure £IOO thereon. It was the East's notion of a tip. We think always of Americans when we think of millionaires. , Yet the richest man in the world is no Yankee but an Indian prince the Maharajah of Patiala. What is he worth? Nobody knows. All that anybody can say is that his purse has no bottom.