Page:History of India Vol 5.djvu/381

 THE PEACOCK THKOJSTE 325 jewels in the imperial jewel-house, rubies, garnets, dia- monds, 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 miskals (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 super- intendent of the goldsmiths' department. He was also to receive one hundred thousand tolas of pure gold, equal to 250,000 misUals (over 334 pounds Troy) in weight and 1,400,000 rupees (over 155,000) in value. The throne was to be three gaz (six feet) in length, two and a half gaz (five feet) in breadth, and five gas (ten feet) in height, and was to be set 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, emer- alds, and pearls. The ascent was to consist of three steps set with jewels of fine water. 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