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"Is it so ?" I asked.
"Yes—it is so" said he. "We don't and that is the reason why you will not get it. Is not the reason clear enough?"
And I had to admit that the reason was clear enough" and bid him good morning and got out. What a wonderful instrument for smothering the public voice, the recent order of the Government of India will furnish politicals such as this with, it is easy to understand.
Next Tuesday full two years will have elapsed since the death of Sir Salar Jung II. And this puts me in mind of all that the Salar Jung family has suffered since the death of the Nawab Munier-ul-mulk Bahadur and the pitiable condition it is Of what avail was it that the highest personage in these Dominions constituted himself the guardian of the infant son of Sir Salar Jung II? Of what avail was it that he appointed a committee to manage the estates of the family and laid down rules for the guidance thereof? Sir Asman Jab, a nobleman not particularly well disposed towards the family, became the medium of communication between His Highness the Nizam and the committee of management of the estates. An official not overburdened with a sense of gratitude to the family for favours done by it in the past, turned up to be the master of the situation. And the result has proved to be disastrous to the interests of the family. Its right to the Meeralum Tank, one of its coveted possessions came to be questioned on the flimsiest grounds. A creature of the Government's, came to be appointed at the head of the committee of management. The only man on the Committee who could work on behalf of the family was worried' till he resigned his membership. Lady Salar Jung II was reduced to a nonentity within the palace walls-and her infant son, the rightful' owner of all the estates was left to take care of himself. Jealousy began to work mischief amongst the lady members of the family—and
