1 THE QUEEN EMPRESS’S INDIAN SERVANTS, 621
2 (c) Inundation canals from the left bank of the Chindb to irrigate
3 the Khadar lands in the northern part of the Jhang District.
4 (d) A canal to take out of the Kabul river near Michni fort and
5 to extend to Peshdwar.
6 The survey of the Bhatinda-Bhdwalpur Railway was in progress in
7 1888-89, and the field-work was finished by the end of January, 1889. The
8 project of this railway forms a link which, in connection with the Patidld-
9 Bhatinda Railway, will shorten the distance between Ambdld and Karra-
10 chi by 1222 miles.
11 The work of the Patidld-Bhatinda Railway was taken in hand in April
12 1888.. The first engine, with permanent way material, ran through to
13 Nabha, 154 miles, on the 17th March, 1889, and the line was opened for
14 public trattic in October, 1889. ‘
15 A reconnaissance to connect Delhi with Karrachi, vid Kotri, was carried
16 out in 1888-89, The route for an extension of the North-Western Railway
17 from Peshdwar to Jamrad, for military purposes only, has been surveyed and
18 estimated for.
19 The employment of natives of India by the Queen-Empress as Her
20 Majesty’s domestic servants, to which His Royal Highness Prince Victor
21 of Wales referred in one of his eloquent speeches at Lahore, has created
22 a deep impression in the minds of the people of the country, and has
23 gone far towards confirming them in the conviction that Her Royal Majesty
24 cherishes the most. sincere affection for India and her Indian subjects.
25 Some of Her Majesty’s Mahomedan servants who lately visited their homes
26 on leaye, spoke in the warmest terms of the high virtues and queenly
27 qualities which distinguish the “Mother of India,” as Her Majesty is
28 designated by her Indian subjects out of their deep reverence for her
29 august person and throne.
30 On the 12th of September, 1885, Ranbir Singh, the Mahardjd of
31 Kdshinfr, son and successor of Maharaja Golab Singh, to whom it will be
32 remembered the Government of India had made over the beautiful and
33 fertile valley of Kashmir for a price, breathed his last.* The deceased
34 Mahardjdé was succeeded by his eldest son Partéb Singh. The Government
35 of India took the opportunity of informing the new Maharaja that, in
36 future, the status of the “British officer on special duty in Kashmir”
37 * A picturesque account of his death is given by Sir Oliver St. John. He had, twenty-four
38 hours before, recalled a Brahmin exiled many years previously for cursing him. This pious
39 act gave him no relief, and he made up his mind that death was imminent. He abolished a
40 liquor contract, restored the old prohibition against the liquor traffic, abolished certain
41 obnoxious taxes, gave his sons good advice, and then, being removed from his bed to the floor,
42 he breathed his last. Next day his body was burnt on the banks of the Tavi in the presence
43 of a large multitude. The body is said to have been enveloped *riginally in forty coverings
44 of shawls and other rich stuffs interspersed with gold coins and jewels of great value placed
45 there by the women of his harem, though thirteen of the wrappers only were taken off by
46 the attendant Brahmins before the body was placed on the pile. The whole of the Maharajai’s
47 wardrobe, jewels and riding horses, with seven elephants, and a number of cattle, besidesa very
48 large sum in cash, the whole estimated at from five to ten lakhs of rupees, were set aside for
49 distribution among the Brahmins, or to be sent to the holy men in the neighbourhood.
50 Business was suspended, the shop-keepers dealing only through one leaf of their shop-doors.
51 The Government employees, including the soldiers, shaved their heads and faces, excepting
52 only Sikhs, Mahomedans, Brahmins and Rajputs connected with the Mahardj4_by marriaye.
53 White garments were worn by all, and ornaments of every description laid aside. The
54 period of mourning extended over thirteen days. On the 25th September, the new Maha-
55 rdji took his seat in darbdr, after he had performed the ceremony of tying on his turban
56 which is supposed to mark the close of the period of acute grief. The morning was
57 spent in distributing gifts to the Brahmins on the spot where the Mahardja’s body had been
58 burnt. In addition to a large sum of money, these gifts consisted of thirteen sets of _every-
59 thing that had been used by the Mahardjd in this world,.,including horses, cows, and other
60 domestic animals, but only one elephant. The remainder of the Mahardja’s effects, with a sum of
61 five lakhs from his private treasury, were retained to be added to the fund consecrated by him
62 Extention of
63 railway comnunica-
64 tions,
65 The Queen-Empress’3
66 Indian servants,
67 Death of Maharéjé
68 Ranbir Siugh of
69 Kashmir.
70 He is succeeded by
71 Partaéb Singh.
72 to the perpetyal iit Ai fig faery Ree Brat pend amounted to Htipen talib. ry@ gma il.com