Middletown transcript., 1897-09-04


fAS7 of generations,
the hope of thousands of Manipuri
who prayed daily to be delivered from
foreign rule.
He was educated after the manner
of his kind, to the fullest possible rea-
lization Of his own greatness and in
comparable worth I; yet he was won
derfulIy sweet, unspoiled child. with
fine conception of right and Justice
only eight years old, but wise and grave
beyond belief. His Mullas instructed
him daily in the initial truths of the
profound religion of his people, which
he did not wholly understand but it
deepened his inherited reverence for
sages and holy men upon whose inter-
cession with the Powers depended the
welfare of his realm. He was also
taught tolspeak and understand the
language of the invaders, to be better
able to cope with possible difficulties.
" hen Major Major Jeffries, Of the English
Government Department, appeared at
Imphale, with his chosen delegation,
to settle matters pertaining to the Bur-
ma Treaty, he was received with hon.
Ors prescribed for such occasions by
the home Government, mingled with
very apparent native displeasure, which
rather complicated proceedings. But
in the course OF the long, tedious nego-
tiations, it pleased his little Highness-
Rhahula Singh-to appear occasionally;
and he singled out the major as mark
of his imperial favor, and made sweet,
grave overtures which resulted in a
mutual friendship; for Major Jeffries's
own little son lay in lonely grave far
up among the Naga hills, and the little
princeling crept into his place una
wares.
Meantime many exasperating diff
culties rose out of intervention of the
various Hill tribes under the old Raja's
rule, which kept matters at a haggling
point. The major went as far as he
dared, into the outlying provinces, to
Judge of the exact truth for himself,
for lie had reason to suspect native in
trigue. The little Raja fell into the
habit of riding to meet him beyond the
city walls with his armed escort, of
which the old ruler did not wholly ap-
prove; but as his sons will had never
been th warted, lie did not think the
matter of sufficient weight to risk his
| displeasure. But one day the body
guard was suddenly surrounded by a
clan of the troublesome Mazuna and,
in the ensuing skirmish, his little High
ness was thrown from his horse and
grievously hurt. The offenders were
taken prisoners and put to death with
out question, and a large detachment
of Manipuri sent to avenge the wrong
on their tribe. To all his inquiries the
major received fragmentary, unsatis-
factory answers, being now looked
upon with dark disfayor as remotely
to blame for The misfortune; but after
the fiis. agonizing day was past Rhahula
Singh sent him a verbal message,
through native official, saying that
his sufferings would soon be at end for
the oracles predicted a swift recovery,
and all his people were praying hourly
with propitiatory sacri6ces) to the
gods.
The old Raja hesitated no longer in
signing the necessary papers, and let
him know Enthusiastically that his pres
ence was considered inauspicious to
his sons recovery, upon which Major
Jeffries Immediately took his depart
ure. But after week or so, when all
the native doctors had exhausted their
skill in unavailing efforts to relieve the
little sufferer, he was sent for at the
child's imperial co mmand, this TIME
40 OoOahO O PAiu0os W1su uOeoOAAcnV
or Manipuri soldiers to escort him.
As no immediate commission was
pending he gave up his shooting in the
Hills and returned to Imphale to be
met with due pomp and ceremony.
He was shocked and panied beyond
expression at the ravages pain had
Il
wrought on the beautiful child-face,
lately SO radiant with the glow of per.
feet health. Now the little prince lay
patiently silent on his couch of state
barbarously enriched with crimson gold
embroidered purdah and pearl wreathed
arch. the glitter of jewels and rainbow
colors contrasting glaringly with the
pale, delicate face With its great dark
eyes and sweet serious mouth. Sef-
fries useful knowledge Of surgery told
him instantly that no power on earth
could save the child; he would have
given much at that hour to be able to
palliate his suffering; but be knew the
superstitions Of the people too well to
suggest even the simple opiates within
| bis power.