The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-03

People who are accustomed to think OF
India much as they do OF the Isle OF Man
or Canada. or any other integral part of
the British empire. may be surprised to
learn that less than two thirds OF that
ernment.
There are no fewer than az native royal
families. and these hold sway over $685.
600 square miles of the million and a
half which compose India, while their
subjects number over 81 millions.
The stranger visiting the court OF one
OF these monarchs. and seeing Its splen-
dor would imagine its owner to be an
Independent king. But after a short resi-
dence he would come to admit that the
real ruler was a British resident.
These Indian monarchs can make nei-
ther war nor peace. can send no ambas-
sadors to one nnothers courts, their ar
mics are strictly regulated In point OF
numbers, no European may reside at
their palaces without special sanction.
and, finally. any misgovernment Is la
bic TO be visited by instant deposal.
Perhaps the best known OF these sub
ject kings was the late Maharajah Of Pa
ITALIA. who died lately, at the age Of only
rs from fever. He was a keen sports
man and a giver Of splendid entertain
ments. His royal revenue of something
like $500, 900 a year enabled him to out
shine many OF Europes smaller royal
ties.
Next door to India, on the west. Il
Beluchistan, a country considerably larg-
er than all the British Isles put together.
or this region the king is Mir Mahmud
Khan. who came to the throne in 1898.
This ruler over half a million subjects
and an army of ten thousand men Is an
other of Britains vassals.
SO, too, Is the MaharaJah OF Siklxim, a
pretty country UP in the Himalayas.
This foolish royalty refused on one oc-
casion to act upon the suggestion Of the
British government He was thereupon
taken down into India and kept under
surveillance for some years. At last, In
1895 he promised TO be good, and so was
permitted to return and begin to reign
afresh
Several other sovereigns whose Ideas
failed 10 coincide with those Of the In
dian government have been relieved Of
their troubles. The dethroned king Of
Manipur IL one Of these. The others are
Yakoob Khan, and his brother Ayoub.
They are sons OF Shere Ali. who made so
much trouble in Afghanistan In the late
seventies. and had TO be suppressed by
an army under Lord Roberts. In 1879
Shere All died and Yakoob succeeded him.
Then came tho cruel and treacherous
murder of Sir Louis Cavagnari. the am
bassador. A second British army entered
Afghanistan and Yakoob was caught and
Gagged
Meantime Ayoub had installed himself
as king. and Lord Roberts made his IA
nous march from Ghuznce to Kandahar,
where he caught the self-made monarch
and soundy thrashed him. He fed 10
Persia, but went back FIVE years later and
tried conclusions with the Ameer Get
ting a second beating, he surrendered to
the Indian government and was added 10
their list of captive kings.
Singapore is bit OF an Island about
the size OF the Isle OF Wright, but, like
all self-respectins British governments In
the east. IL has Its list Of subjects, or
protected" kings. There are six OF
these altogether. with q combined terri
tory OF over 10000 square miles. There
is a resident at each Of the six courts,
and each state agrees 10 furnish his maj
esty's government with troops N they are
required.
Even the colonial Office would have
some difficulty I'm giving a list OF the
kings who are under British sovereignty
I'm Africa. Tho one heard most OF lately
is Lerothodi king of the Bssutos. who
has stuck 10 England oil through the
Boer war. Another interesting monarch
over whom Rhodesia has extended n pro-
tectorate is Lavanika. King OF Barose-
land~ country four times. the size OF
England, and including all the basin Of
the upper zemhesi In his capitl. Lealni,
the king, has built n palace which IL uni
Que. Although the material Of the walls
IL clay, and the roof thatch. yet the
building r. as big as n large English house
and the roof II supported ON magnificent
pillars OF polished mahogany. The king
is tall and dignined. dressed IN European
fashion. and acts as his own chief nagis-
trate
Great Britain's most important vassai