A REGAL PURCHASE. 249 



the cooking-pots being scoured in the flower garden, or, as 

 we actually saw in one palace, a pile of dirty riding-boots 

 being cleaned in a corner of the magnificent audience hall, 

 into which we were ushered with much ceremony. I 

 must not omit to mention the valuable collection of 

 oriental manuscripts at Ulwar. One copy of the Koran 

 is written and illuminated in gold and bound in a really 

 artistic scarlet and gold cover. Ulwar is celebrated for 

 the tooling and finish of its leather bindings, which 

 command high prices even in these days of a deplorably 

 depreciated rupee. 



One of the sights of the palace is a solid silver table, 

 of considerable size ; and nearly every room has some 

 special curiosity. 



The late Maharaja seems to have spent his money 

 in regal fashion. When in Calcutta he was taken to see 

 the chandeliers, &c, at Osier's shop. "Yes, very pretty; 

 I will buy them all," was his only remark. They tried 

 to explain that it was possible to have too much of a 

 good thing, even of cut crystal. But, " No, I will take 

 it, I will buy it all," was his answer ; and accordingly 

 the contents of the shop were packed up and sent off 

 to Ulwar. It is perfectly characteristic of the Oriental 

 potentate that the huge packages remain unopened to 

 this day in the precincts of the Maharaja's palace. 



