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PREFACE.

me. His return to Hyderabad and Secunderabad has been most welcome at the present time.

I append an account, taken from the Pioneer of September 28th, 1914, of the magnificent gift of His Highness the Nizam to the Government of India for the war. This took place after my book had gone to press. Ever since 1857 Hyderabad (Deccan) has held a peculiar place in the affections of English people, for we know that "Our Faithful Ally" can always be relied on at a crisis.

"His Highness the Nizam has come forward with an offer of a contribution to the war worthy of the Premier State in India and of the representative of a line of rulers whose relations with the British Government have been of such a unique character. After long deliberation, His Highness says, he has arrived at the conclusion that he would prefer that his contribution should take the shape of supporting the entire expenses of two regiments in which he is specially interested, the 1st Hyderabad Imperial Service Lancers and the 20th Deccan Horse (of which he is Colonel) from the day of their departure from Hyderabad for the war to that of