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Decorations: India

During the visit of the Prince of Wales to India the display of jewel decorations by the native princes was extraordinary. Sir Jung Bahadoor is described thus in the Times (March 21st, 1876):--"No gnome king in a gorgeous pantomime ever shone in the midst of electric magnesium light and blue fire, half so splendid as the Nepaulese Minister. His skull cap parseme with pearls, is surrounded with a triple row of emeralds, rubies, and diamonds, with pendants of the same. From the aigrette representing the sun, above which is an enormous ruby, rises the double-eyed peacock feather. These two were sent to him from the Emperor of China, for he is a first-class mandarin of the Celestial Empire. The peacock's feather is, again, surmounted by a beautiful plume of bird of paradise feathers curved backwards. His tunic of purple satin, lined with the softest and finest fur, is embroidered exquisitely and set with pearls, and over his breast he wears the ribands of the Bath and of the Star of India. His sword is diamond-hilted, the sheath rich with jewels. Altogether a European monarch in all his glory would make but a very poor figure beside such a picturesque and very extraordinary display. "His brother and son were only inferior in a small degree to Sir Jung Bahadoor, and were dressed in a similar manner. "He has just walked back to his camp, and as the rays of the camp fire pursue him through the wood, seems to leave a trail behind him like that of a meteor."

The Hasne, or Imperial Treasury, of Constantinople contains a costly collection of ancient ARMOUR and coats-of-mail worn by the sultans. The most remarkable is that of Sultan Murad II., the conqueror of Bagdad. The head-piece of this suit is of gold and silver, almost covered with precious stones; the diadem surrounding the turban is composed of three emeralds of the purest water, and large size, while the collar is formed of twenty-two large and magnificent diamonds.

In the same collection is a curious ornament in the shape of an elephant, of massive gold, standing on a pedestal formed of enormous pearls, placed side by side. There is also a table, thickly inlaid with oriental topazes, presented by the Empress Catherine of Russia, to the Vizier Baltadji Mustapha, together with a very remarkable collection of ancient costumes, trimmed with rare furs, and literally covered with precious stones. The divans and cushions, formerly in the throne-room of the sultans, are gorgeous; the stuff of which the cushions are made is pure tissue of gold, without any mixture of silk whatever, and is embroidered with pearls, weighing about 3600 drachmas. Children's cradles of solid gold, inlaid with precious stones; vases of immense value in rock-crystal, gold and silver, encrusted with rubies, emeralds, and diamonds; daggers, swords, and shields, beautifully wrought and richly jewelled, all tell a story of ancient grandeur and wealth, when the Ottoman power was a reality, and Western Europe trembled before the descendant of the son of Amurath.