beautiful statue of Queen Victoria which ornaments the principal public square.  It is one of the finest monuments to be seen anywhere, and expressed his admiration of his empress, who had shown particular interest in his career.  The present gaikwar was placed upon the throne in 1874 by Lord Northbrook, when he was Viceroy of India, to succeed Malhar Rao, one of those fantastic persons we read about in fairy stories but seldom find in real life.  For extravagant phantasies and barbaric splendors he beat the world.  He surpassed even those old spendthrifts of the Roman Empire, Nero, Caligula and Tiberius.  He spent a million of rupees to celebrate the marriage ceremonies of a favorite pigeon of his aviary, which was mated with one belonging to his prime minister.  But the most remarkable of his extravagant freaks was a rug and two pillow covers of pearls, probably the greatest marvel of all fabrics that were ever woven since the world was made.

The carpet, ten feet six inches by six feet in size, is woven entirely of strings of perfect pearls.  A border eleven inches wide and a center ornament are worked out in diamonds.  The pillow covers are three feet by two feet six inches in size.  For three years the jewel merchants of India, and they are many, were searching for the material for this extraordinary affair.  It cost several millions of dollars and was intended as a present for a Mohammedan lady of doubtful reputation, who had fascinated His Highness.  The British Resident at his capital intervened and prohibited the gift on the ground that the State of Baroda could not afford to indulge its ruler in such generosity, and that the scandal would reflect upon the administration of the Indian Empire.  The carpet still belongs to the State and may be seen by visitors upon a permit from one of the higher authorities.  It is kept at Baroda in a safe place with the rest of the state jewels, which are the richest in India and probably the most costly belonging to any government in the world.

The regalia of the gaikwar intended for state occasions, which was worn by him at the wedding, is valued at $15,000,000.  He appeared in it at the Delhi durbar in 1903.  It consists of a collar and shoulder pieces made of 500 diamonds, some of them as large as walnuts.  The smallest would be considered a treasure by any lady in the land.  The border of this collar is made of three bands of emeralds, of graduated sizes, the outer row consisting of jewels nearly an inch square.  From the collar, as a pendant, hangs one of the largest and most famous diamonds in the world, known as the “Star of the Deccan.”  Its history may be found in any work on jewels.  There is an aigrette to match the collar, which His Highness wears in his turban.