'Russia and India in 1903' [‎22v] (46/68)

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RUSSIA AND INDIA IN 1903.
of Bikanir adheres to as regards his personal income,
and the attempts to induce extravagance, usually made
with success, by interested parties in the case of young
Princes, have signally failed in his case. His life is
that of an English country gentleman. He can ride
anything, or shoot anything within range. He has
served with great credit in the campaign in China, and
the Bikanir Camel Corps, 500 strong, is now in Somali
land. The Maharajah has lately entertained the Duke
and Duchess of Connaught and the Grand Duke of
Hesse, and given them the best grouse, wild duck,
and buck shooting it is possible to obtain. But what
His Highness and the Princes like him, especially
those who have entered or seek to enter that superb
creation of Lord Curzon’s, the Imperial Cadet Corps,
with its manly system of physical and personal training,
under His Highness the veteran Maharajah of Idar,
Major Watson and Captain Cameron, most look
forward to, is the opportunity to render great and con
spicuous service to the British Empire. This feeling
is reflected in every class of the community, and in far
more marked degree than twenty years ago. All
intelligent people now appreciate that England is
doing for India, all that one nation can do for another.
Wide Social Reforms.
The Maharajah of Bikanir brings one to the Rathore
Rajput Princes, of whom he is a conspicuous example.
Sir Edward Bradford was long resident amongst them,
and is still remembered with affection. But the agent
to the Governor-General who has left an indelible
mark upon Rajputana, and thus upon all modern
Indian society, was Sir Edward Bradford’s successor—
the late Colonel Walters. In 1887 he induced all the
eighteen States to form a Rajputra Sabha or Council,
and so contribute to the maintenance of a permanent
office and Secretary, for the regulation of certain social