CHAPTER XXVII.

FEUDATORY NATIVE STATES.-continued.

CIS-SUTLEJ STATES.

Putiala-Jhend-Nabha-Faredkhot-Maler Kotla-Rampore.

Putiala. Of the Cis-Sutlej States in Sirhind, the great plain between the Sutlej and the Jumna, where the fate of India has so often been decided by the shock of arms, Putiála, with an area of 5,412 square miles, peopled by 1,650,000 souls, ranks first, both in extent and for the noble services its Chief and people rendered to our cause during the worst days of the Mutiny. Founded by a Seikh Ját in the 17th century, Putiála and several other States on the British side of the Sutlej passed under our protection in 1809. For the help he gave us some years later in the war with Nepaul, the Rajah of Putiála was rewarded with new estates. like return was made for the loyal conduct of another Rajah during the first Seikh War. It was the same Narindar Singh who, at the outbreak of the Mutiny in 1857, at once cast in his lot with ours, placed himself and his troops at our disposal, kept the road open from Lahore to Delhi, lent his money freely to the Indian Government, sent out his soldiers wherever they were needed for the maintenance of order or the suppression of revolt, and spared no effort which a faithful vassal might make on behalf of his liege lord. For these

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splendid services the Maharajah was duly rewarded by the gift of forfeited estates yielding two lakhs of rupees a year, by the right of adoption in default of heirs, and by the power of inflicting capital punishment within his own realm. His successor, Mahindar Singh, who died lately in the sixteenth year of his rule, was a welltaught, able, and enlightened prince, who spoke English, and administered justice on English principles. He was entitled to a salute of 17 guns.

Jhend. Not less faithful in the hour of our great need were the Rajahs of Jhend and Nabha, both descended from the same clan as Patiála. Jhend, a small State of 1,236 square miles, helped Lord Lake against Holkar in 1805, and a few years later secured its independence of Runjeet Singh by acknowledging the Indian Government as its Overlord. In the two Seikh Wars Rajah Sarúp Singh stood loyally by his English masters, and in 1857 he vied with Putiála in the zeal and promptitude of his movements on their behalf. In a very few days after the rising at Delhi, the road from Kurnaul to that city was guarded by his troops. At Budlee Serai, on the memorable 8th of June, they assisted to chase the rebels into the stronghold which they afterwards helped to storm. Their Rajah himself took part in the famous siege. For these and subsequent services he was rewarded with an increase of territory, the right of adoption, the full power of life and death, and a salute of eleven guns. In person and character Sarúp Singh, was among the noblest specimens of the Seikh race. his death in 1864 he was succeeded by his son, Rugbheer

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Singh, who had proved himself the worthy heir of his high-minded father.

Nabha, &c.—The Rajah of Nabha, a yet smaller State than Jhend, made ample atonement during the Mutiny for his father's shortcomings during the Seikh War of 1845. Some of his troops were sent to occupy Loodiánah, while another body did good service at the siege of Delhi. He would have placed himself at their head, but this offer was declined on the plea of his youth. The rewards conferred upon him were similar to those conferred on his kinsmen of Jhend and Putiála. Dying of fever towards the end of 1863, he was succeeded by his younger brother, who has a personal salute of 13 guns.

Of the other States between the Sutlej and the Jumna, Faridkót is the largest with an area of 643 square miles. It was founded by a Burár Ját in the time of Akbar, and its Rajah rendered us good service during the troubles of 1857. Malér Kotla is ruled by a Pathán Nawab whose ancestors came from Cabul. These two chiefs have a salute of 11 and 9 guns respectively.

Rámpore.-The Nawáb of Rámpore rules a State within the British province of Rohilkund, having an area of 945 square miles and a population of nearly half a million. It was a forefather of the present Nawab who fled before Colonel Champion's Sepoys in the time of Warren Hastings. In the general overthrow of the Afghan Rohillas he was allowed to retain his lordship of Rámpore as a fief of the Nawab of Oude. For his services during the Mutiny the present Nawáb received a further grant of land. He is a good Arabic and Persian scholar, and is entitled to a salute of 13 guns. His revenue is £146,000.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

FEUDATORY NATIVE STATES-CENTRAL INDIA.

Bhopal-Bundelkhund-Gwalior-Mahrattas-Indore-Dar and Dewas.

Bhopal.-The chief Muhammadan State in Central India is that of Bhopal, lying between the Vindhya Hills and the Nerbudda, with an area of 8,200 square miles, peopled by 769,200 souls. It was founded by an Afghan follower of Aurungzebe, whose successors gallantly held their own against many an attack from their Mahratta neighbours. In 1818 Bhopal was placed under British protection. During the Mutiny the brave and able Sekundar Begum stood so loyally by the British power, that her dominions were enlarged by new grants and her dynasty assured by the right of adoption. On her death in 1863 she was succeeded by her likeminded daughter, the Shah Jehán Begum. Her Highness is a G.C.S.I. and is entitled to a salute of guns.

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Bundelkhund.-Bundelkhund or the land of the Bundelas, and Bhagalkhand, peopled by the Bhagelas, both Hindoo tribes, contain a cluster of Native States, stretching from the Betwa eastward to Mirzápore. Chief of these is Rewah, a highland State with an area of nearly 13,000 square miles, the Rajah, under the vigorous lead of Captain Willoughby Osborne, showed a bold front

* Vide chapter XVI..

to the mutineers and rebels in 1857. His loyalty was rewarded with the hill district of Amarkantak and the right of adoption. His salute amounts to 17 guns. Next in importance comes Urcha or Tehri on the Betwa, whose Rajah became our vassal in 1812. Datia, an offshoot of Tehri passed under our protection in 1804, and Samptar, which had once formed part of Datia, in 1817. The little State of Pauna, south of Tehri, was once famous for its diamond mines. Besides these, Bundelkhund contains some 32 minor chiefships covering an area of 6,300 square miles, only one of which is ruled by a Muhammadan.

Gwalior.-Passing over the smaller States controlled by the Central India Agency, through its various branches from Western Málwa to Bhagalkhund, we come to the larger kingdoms of Gwalior and Indóre, still ruled by Mahratta princes of the Scindia and Holkar lines. The Mahrattas, so called from Maharastra, a hilly region, which they have inhabited from time immemorial. This tract, which lies along the eastern slope of the western ghats in the Deccan, abounding in mountain fastnesses and small hill forts, appeared to be a fitting nursery for the future robbers and plunderers of India. Although this race may have taken their name from that region of mountain fastnesses, where they may have in early times sought a refuge, it would appear that they must have largely inhabited the Deccan generally, for in no other way can we account for the swarms which burst forth from time to time, like a flight of locusts devouring the land, "making a solitude and calling it peace." Under Sivajce they became soldiers and conquerors, and