kitchen
in the whole world : more like a palace than a kitchen ; as the ceiling
is of costly lacquer, and the pillars which support it are of marble,
and onyx. The stoves, poker, and tongs, and even the coffee-mill, are
of solid silver ; and all that is not made of silver is formed of
copper, heavily gilt. The dishes, and the plates, likewise the knives,
and forks and spoons, are all made of solid gold ; and the plates, and
dishes are, in addition, set with hundreds of precious stones. The
value of the Shah's kitchen, and dining-room, has been estimated by a
European traveller, who knows Teheran well, as at least a million
sterling."
The
inventory of jewel-treasures left by the late Shah of Persia shows
their value to be about ten millions sterling. The old crown of the
Persian dynasty holds a Ruby as large as a hen's egg. A belt, studded
with Diamonds, worn only on great State occasions, is appraised at
several hundred thousand pounds. A wonderful silver vase is decorated
with a hundred superb Smaragds. A sword with a Diamond-covered scabbard
is worth a quarter of a million sterling. One remarkable object among
the collection is a square block of Amber (of four hundred cubic
inches) which is said to have dropped from the skies in the time of
Mahomet.
At
Teheran, these jewels left by the late Shah have been valued by his
successor ; a thing that has never been done before. Among the same are
several Diamonds which have not their equals in the world. The ancient
crown of the Persian sovereigns, which the Shah only wears on State
occasions, is covered with valuable precious stones, and is worth
something like half a million sterling.
But, notwithstanding this widespread fascination,
