Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1900-05-25
BRITISH STATE PRISONERS.

BRITISH olAle tN'SONeHSs
Treatment OF Rulers Who Have Boen
Conquered In the Last Fifty Years.
In lS49, when the state Of Maharaia
Dhuleep Singh was finally annexed to
the Indian empire, that potentate was
requested to take up his residence in
Engiand-the inducement to a ready
compliance being given by the promise
OF yearly income of S240,OO0 with
nothing at all as an alternative.
Dhuleep Singh wisely acquiesced, pur-
chasing the fine estate OF Brandon in
Norfolk, upon which he resided for
many wears as a wealthy English
country gentleman. Though during
this period the Mahara.a frequently
expressed the desire to revisit his ma.
tive country, protesting the utmost
loyalty to the Empress. Queen, yet he
was never permitted to travel east OF
the Isthmus Of Suez. In this case
the bond seems to have descended up.
on the heads OF his children, for while
his sons have entered the British army
and one of them, Prince Victor, re-
Gently married the daughter OF the
Earl OF Coventry, yet they have never
been allowed to set eyes on the land
over which their ancestors ruled.
Approaching Calcutta on the left
bank OF the HULL river at Garden
Beach, the visitor will have pointed
ont the fine palace OF the late Valid
Ali, King OF Oudb. There from 1856
until recent date, this prince was
held in semi.captivity u. on an an
nual allowance OF 5000, 900, the only
proviso rs to his freedom OF action
being that he should not leave the
vicinity Of Calcutta The king OF
Oudh, true to those prodigal instincts
which brought about his downfall, not
only managed to expend this, large
sum, but in theI keeping OF snake
mounds, menagcySes and other costly
forms OF amusement dear to the ORR
entail mind, was obliged 10 draw fire..
quently upon the imperial. treasury
for further amounts. The leniency
with which he was thus treated was
probably due TO the fact that he offered
no armed resistance to his own de.
position. Blazing with jewels and
seated in smart equipage with SER
wants in royal liveries, the King OF
Oudh was often Q conspicuous figure
in the Calcutta park, where the society
Of the Indian capital takes an outing
after the heat Of the day has passed.
Far different was the fate OF the
poor old Bahadur Shah, last Of the
Great Mogus. After the fall OF Delhi
In 1867, he was tried for high treason
and sent as state prisoner to Ran
COON. There, in small hut, the only
lineal descendant OF Shah Jehan and
Auraugzeb passed the remainder Of
his days, unnoticed and upon a mere
pittance. As, however, both his sons
were slaughtered aud less culpable
rebel leader, Tantia Topi, was exc.
cutsd. he may have thought himself
fortunate to escape with his life.
Near Colombo, in Ceylon, England
still holds in light durance Arab
Pacha and his colleagues OF the Egyp-
tian rebellion Of 1882. While Arab
has not ceased to bemoan his fate and
uselessly petition the British govern
ment for permission to return to
Egypt, yet, considering the nature Of
his offence. and that he was sentenced
TO death, his lot cannot be considered
burdensome. Provided with an in.
come sufficient for his wants, o pleas.
ant residence, permission accorded
him to receive visitors aud consider
able measure Of freedom within the
district, he would undoubtedly have
been worse of had his successful
enemies been OF his own race and re-
ligion.
For several years Cetewayo, king
Of the Zulus, was held an unassigned
prisoner at Ghowe, near the scene OF
the present military operations in
Natal, where he died before the prom.
Use OF restoration to his throne was
carried into effect New York Sun.