SULTAN’S GOLDEN THRONE.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7920, 18 August 1917, Page 1 (Supplement)

SULTAN’S GOLDEN THRONE.

WHERE MILLIONS ARE HIDDEN IN VAULT'S.

In tlie Green Vaults of the Porte lies hidden away what is perhaps the greatest treasure in the world, collected for centuries 'by Turkey’s greedy ru'lers and hordled away from the gaze of any inquisitive mortal. No one has ever been aide to estimate the value of the {sultan’s jewels, for the treasures are guarded night and day. There are at least twelve sets of heavily-barred doom to pass before the actual entrance >s reached to this Aladdin’s cave. For every lock there are two keys entrusted to as many custodians, each having twenty-four guards. These are supposed to spy on each other as well ae protect the guardians of the keys. The Green Vaults of Constatio, as the treasure caves are called, are within the grounds ot the Porte. Approached through a court called D:ir-es-Sa’adet— the Court of Felicity it s seen to be a low-domed edifice with an interesting doorway, enriched with marbles and tiles. WORTH £600,000,000? The jewels appear to consist mainly of set and unset precious stones-. All information, regarding them, however, is kept secret, because of the impoverished condition of the country, and if the exact amount of the Sultan’s wealth was discovered certain unscrupulous leaders), such as Enver Pasha and his Young Turks', might be tempted to “ break in and steal.” Tlie gossipers of Constantinople say, however, that 1 ft person offered £600,000 for the Green Vaults and secured their contents he would make a great bargain. Perhaps tfie throne of beaten gold, adorned with millions ol rubies, pearls, diamonds', sapphires, and emeralds set in mosaic, is the most dazzling object in the treasury of the “Sbadfow of God on Earth.” How Selim I. ever brought it from Persia away hack in the fifteenth century, when travelling was so difficult, is beyond human comprehension. EMERALDS WEIGHING 41b. Nowhere in the world l are there precious stones to compare with the two great emeralds which adorn the top of the Sultan’s throne, One of them weigh t 41b., and isj as big a.s a man's hand, the other being a trifle smaller. On a table of ebony and sandal-wood, within reach of the throne, stands a marvellous golden tankard encrusted with 4,000 diamonds. By its side lien ft platter wrought of tlie purest gold and literally veneered with diamonds. On the ground surrounding this dazzling sight are scattered thousands of rubies, pearls, turquoises, and emeralds, mingled with exquisitely-carved diamond buttons. The magnitude of the whole thing makes one gasp with amazement. There are effiges of the Sifltans clad! in robes of state from 1451 to 1839, with jewel: on the leathers of their turbans, daggers, and swords which are priceless, as are the wonderful rubies and rmerald'i in the clasps of Ibrahaim and S alymai* 11. No museum in the world can Wist ft richer collection of amour, scimitars, shields, pistols, saddles, sandials, canes, and tho like, all bejewelled or wrought o( gold. BANQUETIXG EXTRAORDINARY. When the Sultana gives a banquet in her harem the treasury i-j generally raided for the occasion. At one of these revels of diamond flowers stretching from shoulder to boulder were worn by the Sultan\s favourites. The Sultana herself wa« adorned with ropes of pearls of unparalleled size, and in her eo-rs were birds the size of butterflies holding in their beaks sparkling gems. The Sultan’s grand-daughter, a mere child of eleven, used to be tortured) by having her hair done up in a knot on the top of her head inside a diamond crown, the front of her dress covered with diamond oiders, while her hand's were encased "ith golden mittens studded with, precious stones. Few are aware that the Sultan is in receipt of the largest income paid to any Sovereign something like r —and has the right to ask for more should his privy purse run short. The treasury of wealth hoarded away in the Green Vaults, t converted into cash and used for national purpose. 4, would transform the miserable Ottoman empire into one of the richest Powers of the world.

their good, for their greater happiness. And 0110 of the truest tests of a man’s real qualities is that shown by the words and innermost feelings of those with y hom he is closely thrown. Sir Richard was honoured and revered by h.is great army of happy employees, and this 'entiinemt does not come to any man unless earned by his good works. We who are still here—we who arc < aoh day living hours of great anxiety during these terrible years—cannot afford to lose this man. His wise counsel, his cheery presence, his force and enoigy wdl bo greatly missed. Jt is too bad and it makes one almost wonder why those who are so needed are chosen by tho Great Reaper, and why, with years not great in number, with health seemingly good, with friends in multitudes, ";ith success to his credit, with Hill much to do and spirit and <les»’re to do it, whv fineh n. one should have to go. But Sir Richard Burbidge has gon \ and I, with many, many others, deeply H'Kict I.- c(iEI>ON gpxFRIDGE.