After his Highness, the Sultan, had spoken, through the mouth of his Prime
Minister, to the nobles, and commended his son to their care, we crowded
forward and congratulated him in the names of our respective countries.
We filed through the grand salon, with its luxurious medley of divans, tapestries,
and rugs, through a great hall whose walls were hung with heroic-sized paintings
of the English royal family, down a flight of steps, across the marble reception
room, and into the open doors of the royal dining room.
From its polished ceiling of black billion wood hung great white punkahs, which
half-nude Indians on the outside kept gently swaying back and forth.
In the centre of the vast table stood a golden urn filled with delicate maidenhair
ferns and dragon orchids. Against a great plate-glass mirror, at the far end, rested
massive salvers of gold, engraven with the arms of Johore, and in its flawless
depths shone the jewels that decked the entering throng and the splendid service
of plate that dazzled our eyes.
Around his Highness’s throat was a collar of diamonds and on his hands and in
the decorations that covered his breast were diamonds, emeralds, and rubies, of
almost priceless value. Each button of his coat and low-cut vest was a diamond,
and from the front of his rimless cap waved a plume of diamonds. On his wrists
were heavy gold bracelets of Malayan workmanship, and his fingers were
cramped with almost priceless rings. In his buttonhole blazed a diamond orchid.
The handle and scabbard of his sword were a solid mass of precious stones.
Altogether this little known Oriental potentate possessed $10,000,000 worth of
diamonds, the second largest collection on earth.
In personal appearance his Highness compared favorably with the best
representatives of the Anglo-Saxon race. He was five feet eight in height, well
built, with clean-cut, kindly features, in color nearer the Spanish type than the
Indian. His hands and feet were small, forehead high and full, lips thin, and nose
aquiline, his hair and mustache iron gray. He spoke good English, and was able
to converse in French and German. In every-day dress he affected the English
Prince Albert suit, to which he added a narrow silk sarong and a rimless black
cap.
Besides being a lover of jewels, his Highness was a lover of good horseflesh and