MAHARAJAH’S WEALTH

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18844, 6 April 1931, Page 3

MAHARAJAH’S WEALTH

RICHER THAN AMERICAN MILLIONAIRES. MARBLE PALACE FOR WIFE. The vast wealth of the proverbial Croesus, the splendour of Solomon and ancient Babylon, the treasures of Egypt, all those things are as child’s play compared to the possessions of the Indian maharajahs recently gathered in London for the round table conference on the future of India. Among them is the richest man in the world, the Maharajah of Kashmir, who outstrips even American multimillionaires. He wore a jewel-studded robe valued at three million pounds at King George’s Durbar. Another ruler, when he married his fourth wife, built a fairy palace of white marble for her reception and summoned the might of India to his nuptials. Another, the Maharajah of Dholpur. ruler of an ancient State, tours his Dominions with a barbaric retinue which includes saluting elephants .gold and silver decorated camels and hunting cheetahs, retainers in ancient armour, guns drawn by white bullocks, palanquins and bands of cavalry and infantry accoutred in the picturesque equipment of Oriental medievalism. Yet another, the Maharajah of Rewa. has converted his State into a model of progressive administrative efficiency, but he still retains among his officers of State a lord high executioner. clad in spiked insignia of mailed vengeance and carrying a jewelled scimitar to strike terror into the hearts of the cringing subjects of his lord and master. The human brain reels at the material wealth which is represented by the delegation. Pearl and diamond and sapphire and ruby necklaces, worth untold millions, are as common among them as trinkets in a popular jeweller’s shop. Ruler’s Pearl Necklace. The Maharajah of Patiala, head of the delegation, and undisputed chieftain of all Sikhs, is the only man in the world who owns a pearl necklace worth a million pounds. His diamonds and pearls and rubies transcend the fabled opulence of Aladdin’s cave. His palaces are miniature cities, his retinues armies. Even his dogs live in a luxury at which the whole East marvels. He has blazed roads through the jungle to carry him to his shooting boxes. Once when he entertained a viceroy, fifty elephants bore the party through the jungle to hunt leopards, black bucks and pigs. A regiment of his own lancers clattered alongside as escort and 3000 of his infantry were turned out as beaters for his shoot. In spite of it all he boasts of his simple life. When he went to London in 1928 his chief factotum was his curry cook, who was taken from Patiala in deference to the maharajah’s dislike for the elaborate cuisine of English hotels. Second, perhaps, in influence at the conference, but first in wealth and pomp in India, came Sir Hari Singh, Maharajah of Kashmir, ruler of 80.000 square miles and lord and master of the destinies of three and one-half million people. Kashmir is the world’s treasure house. Playground of India, land of love songs, an emerald valley set amid the pearly peaks of the snow-capped Himalayas, it is the nearest approach on earth to Eden. The Maharajah of Kashmir is the richest man in the world. His wealth is so tremendous that even the late Lord Curzon, who never was known to have lost his imperturbability, was staggered when he saw the rajah’s treasure chambers. Kashmir’s Glittering Lord. There in huge chests and cupboards lay a glittering mass of jewels, the value of which no man had ever made a computation. On one large round table lay a heap of ten thousand rubies and ten thousand emeralds. The rajah explained that he kept the rubies and emeralds on the table for show. Lord Curzon spoke of their commercial value. “I have no doubt millions of

pounds sterling could be realised on them if put into commerce,” said Lord Curzon. “I know,” replied the rajah, “but then I couldn’t have anything to look at.” The might of his dynasty, the pride of his race, the magnificence of his gems, the rainbow hues of his superb uniforms and the dazzling folklore which has grown out of the prowess of his ancestors have all combined to envelop him in a roseate haze of pure romance. The Kashmiri, when he emerges from the seclusion of his city palace, with a train of gorgeously caparisoned elephants, bow the knee and hide their faces in the belief that he is more divine than human. The Sahib of Nawangar. who was also in London, owns a jewelled throne which is guarded by chained cheetahs and leopards. The Maharajah of Bikamer, soldier and patriot, represents another tradition. When the loyalty of the Indian princes was challenged during the war he declared: “My life is at the king's command. I come of a race of warriors and I will bow the knee to the king emperor, but to none other.” The most romantic of all the delegates was the Gaekwar of Baroda. the shepherd boy who became an Indian prince. It Is narrated that when a successor to the throne of Baroda was being sought he with two other shepherd boys was brought to the He was asked for w r hat purpose he had come and answered with all the ancient pride of his Rejput ancestry: ‘‘l have been brought to be made maharajah.”