THE SULTAN'S TREASURE HOUSE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 31, 2 March 1909, Page 4

THE SULTAN'S TREASURE HOUSE.

Nothing in the world equals in splendor the Turkish Sultan's treasure-house in Constantinople, which has never been photographed aud scarcely ever catered, except by its Royal owners and guardians. So priceless are the treasures] stored within that even Ambassadors are refused admittance. It is only some great favourite of the Sultan who may have a passing peep at its wonders. The whole treasure-house consists of but two large rooms, with single gallcr-

ics running above each. The lirst thing that strikes the eye ou entering is the gigantic Persian throne, covered with a huge crystal cmopy. It is made out of beaten gold, one and a half inches thick. The seat and the four thick legs are covered witli Eastern designs worked out ill thousands of huge pearls, equal . in size and quality, with topazes and ; emeralds cut all alike. The throne is square in shape, measuring three yards I long and two yards high. It was made in 1501 in Tabriz, in Persia, for the Shah lsmael Ir There is yet another wondevful throne of Persian work in the same hall. This is rather different in form, having steps, and being supported by slender legs. It has a cupola of gold nnd is itself of golden foundation. Into this are intrusted cedar and sandalwood designs, which are again richly studded with rubies, emeralds, peavls, and diamonds. Uuder the cupola, at the end of a golden chain, mugs an uncut emerald six inches lcr.g and two and ahalf inches thick. It is covered witli texts from the Koran. The throne was made to the sixteenth century, and was used uy Aehnied 1., whose hobby was swords set with precious stones of the very first quality. In a crystal cupboard next to tlio thrones repose three of the largest emeralds which have up to the present moment ever been found. They arc front eight to ten inches thick. In the eighteenth century there was it wonderful emerald in this same cuphoard - which weighed 420 carats, but Mustafa 111. gave it to be put over Mahomed's grave in Medina, where it hangs still. Under the window, next to the cupboard, stands a splendid bronze statue of Abdul Azzis. In the midst of the glare of gold and stones such a thing makes but little impression. It is, however, valuable, because it is the first and, as yet, only statue of a Sultan. The Koran declares it to lie a sign to patronise sculpture, anil 110 other Sultan lias dared to defy this prohibition of " the Devil's art."

Behind crystal cupboards between the two windows arc historical relic's of priceless value. There hangs the sword of Mahomed the Conqueror, wmch lie i carried in his hand on entering Constantinople for the lirst time ; the sword of Constantino Unlooses, the last of the Byzantine dynast/; the crooked sword belonging to Bajazet 11., when ho set out against the Germans j and Soliman tho fireat's swonl, wliich lie carried' during his conquest of Belgrade. All these are of gold, studded with turquoises, sapphires, pearls, and rubies. Xoar tlio.ni are tlio helmets, suits of armor, lances, stilettoes, and horse-trap-pings once used by these Eastern potentates. They are a blaze of diamonds, emeralds, rubies and pearls, all large enough lo awaken the envy of duchesses, and so close together that the gold that tliey are embedded in can scarcely be seen. The olTect is that of a scries of jewelled irahibows, which dazzles the eyes, and recalls tie wonderful tales of the Arabian Nights. The second room is called tiro "Joivel Room." Nobody f'ives such magnificent presents as Suitans and Shahs. Some idea of this will he gained by the fact that, in this second room, are a dozen crystal vases from 23 in. to 30 ill. high, filled with pearls, emeralds, diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. Through the dazzle of these jewels can bo seen stones of huge size, "which arc again set witli smaller jewels, 111 wonderful designs of flowers and beasts. Not even the most beautiful Parisian work can come near this, and those who have shops in the "Rua do la Paix cannot imagine anything approaching the magnificence of color und the delicacy of workmanship that make the gems cast into tliese vases that stand hi a small room 111 Constantinople unique. In the middle of this room is a cupboard—crystal, of couvs'c—containing a I perfect dotation Qi every kind o{ Ma-

homedau money, from the most ancient times to the present day. And yet, rich | as this collection is, it could not buy the stones, which are Caliplia, contrary to the Koran's decree, play upon, in a casket adorned with huge rubies lie two pearls weighing 48 grammes. 11l another casket, studded with diamonds, is a ruby as large as a. pear. This was tin; giftot' Persia's Shah to Sclim on his coronation day. in vrt another casket is a diamond of the lirst water weighing 32 carats, which probably once adorned the Byzantine crown. A child playing on tin sands once found it in Aivan Seraj, where, in Roman times, it was lost in the midst of some great public ccremonv. EIUBLEMS OF CHRISTIANITY. Many priceless relics came to the .Sultans from the Byzantine dynasty. There is a large piece ol Chivst's Cross, given to Constantine the Great by the monks of Golgotha. From the same source came the sponge and crown of thorns used at the Crucifixion. It is not generally known that the head of .John the Baptist, given to Saiutue by her stepfather, and his hand, are also in the Sultan's treasure-house. But such is the case, and they now lia. ghastly relics, surrounded by the orgy of light, color, and gold. Tins galleries of the treasure rooms are lined with vupooards, in which repose hundreds of jewelled dresses anil drinking cups. The enormous quantity of the latter is explained by the Eastern custom of sending a rich drinking cup with every present to the Sultan. Therefore the eye is almost blinded by the dazzle of goblets and vases from Venice and the West, from Holland, Italy, Saxony, China, India, Persia, and Japan. From the latter country are cups guaranteed to fall into pieces should poison be poured therein. Besides these are an unaccountable number of amies from Bagdad, Toledo, and from Persia, all historical and priceless. The collection of watches avid clocks dates from the sixteenth century to the present day. Ono clock, sent in 1740 from the Austrian Emperor to Mahomed 1., plays a fresh minuet every hour, or twentyfour different tunes within the day. Perhaps the most oimpressive part of this collection is the twenty-four costumes once worn by the Sultans. The first dates from the year 14">3—the last from 183!). The magnificence of those dresses deifies description. Each is worth thousands of pounds, even if we count only the value of the huge stones that adorn them, to say nothing of the gold with which they are sewn and embroidered. Each dress is different in shape, colour, and design, according to the taste of its royal owner. The walls of the galleries sire hung with portraits of dead Sultans, painted after death. Xext to the treasure house is the throne room of Aclimed 1. and his library .But the few strangers who visit these rooms pay it little attention, dazzled as tlicv are by the splendor th'ey have already seen.