'Russia and India in 1903' [‎22r] (45/68)

INDIAN PRINCES AND THE EMPIRE.
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a vast influence upon the future generation of Chiefs,
as also the generosity of Jeypore. They are all
interesting studies—the Maharajah of Alwar as being
one of the finest polo players in the world ; the
Maharajah of Jodhpur as one of the best all-round
sportsmen ; and the Maharajah of Bikanir as a perfect
type of an English gentleman, whether as administrator,
soldier, horseman, shot, or host.
a Major His Highness Maharajah Raj Rajeshwar
Shiroenani Sri Sir Ganga Singh Bahadur, K.C.I.E.,
of Bikanir,” to quote his full titles, is only twenty-two
years of age. But if his shoulders are young, his
head is old. Every detail of the administration, and
the whole method of carrying out the executive work
is based upon the best English model, and each
department is under the personal supervision of the
Maharajah.
Bikanir is not a large State—22,000 square miles,
or double the size of Wales, and its soil is mostly
arid—indeed a title given to its Chief by the Emperor
of Delhi was “ King of the Desert.” Its founder,
Rao Bikaji, came from Jodhpur in 1439, and from that
date to 1818, when a treaty was concluded with the
British Government, Bikanir was invaded eight times
by the neighbouring State of Jodhpur, and was in a
perpetual state of war. There could be no better
instance of that which prevailed in nearly every native
State prior to the establishment of British sovereignty,
and to what would again ensue if that connection is
interrupted.
The great difficulty in all native States is financial.
The main sources of revenue are from land, customs,
and licences. But the expenditure is the trouble, first
in restricting it to moderate bounds, and secondly, in
employing it for public purposes. The effort of the
Indian Government is always to induce the Chiefs
only to regard a fixed proportion, of not more than
5 per cent, in the light of civil list. This the Maharajah