Page:From Constantinople to the home of Omar Khayyam.djvu/213

 an adornment for the girdle of the Sun. Upon the accession of the emperor, it occurred to him that, in the opinion of far-seeing men, the acquisition of such rare jewels and the keeping of such wonderful brilliants could render but one service, that of adorning the throne of empire. They ought, there- fore, to be put to such a use that beholders might benefit by their splendour and that majesty might shine with increased brilliancy.

' It was accordingly ordered that, in addition to the jewels in the imperial jewel-house, rubies, garnets, diamonds, rich pearls, and emeralds, to the value of twenty million rupees (over £2,200,000), should be brought for the inspection of the emperor, and that they, together with some exquisite jewels exceeding fifty thousand mithkals (nearly 634 pounds Troy) in weight and worth 8,600,000 rupees (over £950,000), should be carefully selected and handed over to Be-badal Khan, the superintendent of the goldsmith's de- partment. He was also to receive one hundred thousand tolas of pure gold, rupees (over £155,000) in value.

gaz (five feet) in breadth, and five gaz (ten feet) in height, and was to beset with the jewels already mentioned.^ The outside of the canopy was to be of enamel work with occasional gems, the inside was to be thickly set with rubies, garnets, and other jewels, and it was to be supported by twelve emerald columns. On the top of each pillar there were to be two peacocks thickly set with gems, and between each two peacocks was to be a tree studded with rubies, diamonds, emeralds, and pearls. The ascent was to consist of three steps set with jewels of fine water.
 * The throne was to be three ^raz (six feet) in length, two and a half

'This throne was completed in the course of seven years at a cost of ten million rupees (over £1,100,000). Of the eleven jewelled recesses formed around it for cushions, the middle one, intended for the seat of the emperor, cost one million rupees (nearly £ 100,000). Among the jewels set in this recess was a ruby worth a hundred thousand rupees (about £10,000), which Shah Abbas, the King of Iran, had presented to the late Emperor Jahangir, who sent it to his present Majesty when he accomplished the conquest of the Deccan. On it were engraved the names of Sahib-kiran (Timur), Mir Shah Rukh, and Mirza XJlugh Beg. When it came into the possession of Shah Abbas in course of time, his name was added, and when Jahangir obtained it, he added the name of himself and of his father. Now it received the addition of the name of his most gracious Majesty Shah Jahan. At the command of the emperor, a poem by Haji Mohammad Jan, the final verse of which contained the date, was placed upon the inside of the canopy

1 The height may include the base stood, which is still preserved at Delhi, or pedestal on which the structure as noted above.

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