If the English Left India.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 7, 16 August 1911, Page 15

If the English Left India.

To the old Sikh, with his family tradition of war. the lure of-young Bengal has as‘yet little attraction: "The English beat us, and we and they beat the Poorbeahs; now who are the Bengalis that they should preach to men of the sword?—we still know our masters, with whom we share the Army.” So when he talked it over with me as an old friend, the spirit of the Khalsa, which from a sect has become a soldiery of the Wallenstein type, rang out ruthless, forgetting the plough and the prize seedcorn. "Pah, Bengal!” quoth he; "if the English leave the country we wyould see to it that there be neither a merchant, nor a virgin left in Bengal in a month.” From which saying, again, I saw why India needs the English, chatter the B.A.'s never so wisely. The good Eng-, lisli must keep the peace for the millions who cannot keep it for themselves. It was only a year ago that I chatted with some Afghan friends settled within the British border far at least fifty years before the same border became British. “What,” I asked," would you do if th® Sirkar left the land?” My friend was a civil officer of a sub district who helped the English magistrate preach trade and you. Afzul here, and young Wali Dad, who is with his regiment, we should raise fifty of our own and our father's retainers, Alizais and Grandaipurs, and we should ride straight for Bikaiieer.” “Ah,”

said I, in my ignorance, “why for Bikaneer?” “Because,” said my friend-the benevolent magistrate, "in Bikaiieer city all the rich Hindti merchants keep their treasure. ’ "Yes, indeed,” said the cavalry brother, "and the Hindu ba.in'ah woman are the finest in India.” And once again I saw vlearly that a country of conflicting races- and religions needs a rule that has at-its back the drawn sword and the galloper gun.—From “The Keys of all the Creeds," in the “Cornhill Magazine,” for June.