Evening star., 1928-12-23
BY WALDEMAR BONSELS

BY WALDEMAR BONSELS
In Malabar and South Canara are
many Hindu kings. Towns which were
the former seats of their power have
long since passed into the hands of the
Mohammedans or the British; and the
monarchs have withdrawn into the
rural districts. where they can live
wholly for their people-or rather upon
their people.
Their kingship has points in common
with the genius of many neglect ed
poet. Cut off from the world, the king
ship, like the genius, is apt to develop
into a monstroSity, which is impressive
only to the eyes of select company of
the faithful.
There is something infinitely touching
about these despots, spiritual or tenn
poral, and he must be a hard-hearted
fellow who wishes to rob them of their
illusions. So much kindlineSs is usually
to be found behind the mask of vanity.
that one should learn to regard vanity
without contempt, for that which is
truly evil is rarely vain.
These wielders of an unrecognized
sovereignty are apt to be so greatly
moved when stranger unexpectedly
ministers to their sense of self -impor-
tance that their dignity is prone to be-
it Is not contested.
Nevertheless. I determined to take
the King of Shamadji as seriously as if
he had been the Maharaia of Mysore.
The trifling presents might have been
able to send him would probably have
made very little impression, for in many
| cases these forgotten rulers are still rich
enough to surround themselves with all
Inc gaWdS that are attainable by way
OF Western commerce.
In the first instance, therefore, de-
spatched Pasha, my cook, to ask for an
audience, and to say that craved per-
mission to pitch my tent for night in
the shadow of his throne. Pasha obeyed
with his usual earnestness of demean-
or. put my attendant, Panya, took ex-
ception.
That is not the way to approach a
king, Sahib," he said refiectively. He
| seemed seriously concerned, and I was
expecting him to proceed in quite a
dl1erent strain, when he continued: !:
He Will Chamber upon his NANCY old
elephant and will look down upon YOU
as II you were beggar. But if vou
| had graciously granted him permission
to see you, he would have sent YOU his
elephant for your mount, and would
have prostrated himself before YOU
when you did him the honor to ride
| into his palace"
Understand. Panya, that do not
want the king to see me, but that 7
want to see the king. 1 want to see him
in his own character, and after the
manner in which he habitually lives,
Do you think 1t is pleasanter to look
upon a man when he grovels on the
| ground, or when he encounters one face
| to face?"
That is the trouble" answered PAN
va. You set no store on your own
dignity. If you liked, you could travel
through the jungle like a prince: and
you prefer to tramp it like mendicant
fakir who has to beg his way. 1t is a
| hard fate to have to serve such a
| MASTER
GREATLY perturbed, he squatted on
- one of our packages and watched
the ants which seemed busily engaged
in trying to carry it away. In reality
| he did not think as he had spoken and
could easily have been talked over. His
concern was for my prestige and for
the figure he was himself likely to cut
| upon the stage. Since had no doubt
that an opportunity for his play-acting
would arrive in due course, I was con-
| tent to let him ,sulk a while.
Suddenly his discomfort broke forth
anew in speech.
Please don't imagine that myself
| regard you as pauper or a weakling. I
| know what you are. Sahib. But what is
the use of having gold-embroidered
| robe, If the owner wears it inside out?
| An honorable man shows what he is"
''Panya, 1t is too hot to argue. Let us
| rest until the king comes"
mo. no VOlI must talk the M q tfor
| out!"
When I made no answer, he fumed.
beating a tattoo with his foot on the
ground.
do you think it's any pleasure to me
| to know that 1 am right?" he angrily
| inquired.
Nor to me-" I answered But the
gold-embroidered robe is still gold-em-
broidered.
He shook his head vigorously.
THAT does not solve the diffculty.
| for / am your servant; but you are the
] master and should therefore always be
in the right. Suppose you choose to