The Sultan's Tigers by Josh Lacey Read Free Book Online Page B

billionaire businessman Jalata Jaragami today announced the creation of a magnificent museum to house his collection of art, antiques, and relics connected to legendary ruler Tipu Sultan.
“I was born in Bengaluru and have lived in Karnataka for my entire life,” said the owner of the Jaragami Corporation. “This is my small way of saying thank you and contributing something to the cultural heritage of my beloved local area.”
The museum has been under construction for some time already, said Mr. Jaragami, and is due to open next year. Among the exhibits will be displayed one of Tipu Sultan’s swords, a diamond brooch, and seven of the eight bejewelled tigers from Tipu’s throne.
According to legend, Tipu Sultan ordered his craftsmen to build a magnificent throne, but swore a vow that he would not sit on it until the British had been banished from the sub-continent.
When Tipu Sultan’s palace was overrun by the colonial East India army in May 1799, many of the treasures were looted and disappeared. Most were stolen by British soldiers and taken to their own country, some never to be seen again. Jalata Jaragami is determined to bring these valuables back to their home and gather Tipu Sultan’s treasures in one place.
    Â 
    Uncle Harvey grabbed a sheet of paper from the bed. We looked at the words scrawled in my grandfather’s shaky handwriting.
    Â 
I would rather live two days as a tiger than two hundred years as a sheep.
Tipu Sultan.
Jaragami.
Sotheby’s Sale of 18th-century Indian and Islamic Art—3 March 2011—1.9m.
    Â 
    â€œThis
guy really did pay two million dollars for it,” muttered Uncle Harvey.
    â€œDo you think he’ll pay that much for the last tiger too?”
    â€œI should be very surprised if he wouldn’t pay even more.”
    â€œSo, should we go and find it?”
    â€œYou don’t even know it’s still there.”
    â€œI bet it is.”
    â€œWhy? What if Horatio’s wife did as he suggested and found it for herself?”
    â€œWouldn’t we know about that?”
    â€œMaybe we would. Maybe we wouldn’t. Even if she didn’t, someone else might have done. Two hundred years is a long time for something to stay hidden.”
    â€œIf it had been found, why would Marko be here?”
    â€œSomeone might have found it and kept it.”
    â€œOh, come on, Uncle Harvey. You know it’s still there, don’t you? It’s got to be! And we’ve got to go and find it. Let’s go to India and get this tiger!”
    â€œIf only it was that easy.”
    â€œIt is! Let’s go there now!”
    â€œYou can’t just go to India. I suppose we could try to buy tickets, but we’d also need visas or they wouldn’t let us into the country.”
    â€œCouldn’t we get one at the airport?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œBecause that wouldn’t be complicated enough. Everything in India is smothered in layers of bureaucracy. If you paid enough, you could probably get a visa in a day or two, but you’d still have to send your passport and a photo to the embassy.”
    â€œIf we showed up in India without a visa, they couldn’t send us home.”
    â€œThey could and they would,” said Uncle Harvey. “I tell you what, Tom. Leave this with me. I’ll take the letters back to London and do some research. You remember my friend Theo? He’s a professor at Edinburgh University, and he could—”
    â€œThe one who checked out John Drake’s diaries?”
    â€œThat’s him. He could find out if these letters are genuine. I’ve got an ex-girlfriend who works at Sotheby’s. If she’ll talk to me, she could put me in touch with the right people.”
    â€œWhy wouldn’t she talk to you?”
    â€œWe had a bad breakup. I ran off with her sister. But that’s ancient history. I’m sure she’s forgiven me.