suzerain of the Lamas of Tibet. Throughout the following year, however, the Tibetans refused to relinquish their shadowy claims to Sikkim, which the British Government were equally resolved not to recognize, and our troops continued to occupy the country. A treaty was finally concluded with China, in which the British supremacy was acknowledged.

A smaller expedition to the Black Mountains, to punish the numerous depredations of the border tribes, and to avenge the murder of two British officers, was also completely successful, and the turbulent mountaineers were reduced to complete submission. The National Congress of 1888 was held at Allahabad, and included about 1200 delegates. At the end of the year Lord Dufferin resigned, amid universal expressions of regret. His administration was distinguished by the settlement of the Anglo-Russian difficulty, the definition of the Afghan frontier, and the improvement of our relations with Afghanistan, which he had succeeded in converting into a strong and friendly power. On the eastern side of the Empire Upper Burmah had been annexed. In his labours for the welfare of India the Viceroy was seconded by Lady Dufferin, who established a fund in 1885 to provide medical aid for the women of India, and to obtain the services of qualified female doctors, specially for ladies of the upper classes, who were prevented by caste restrictions from seeking ordinary medical aid. In recognition of his distinguished services Lord Dufferin was created Marquis of Dufferin and Ava, on his retirement. He was succeeded by Lord Lansdowne.

On the Burmese frontier it was found necessary, in the winter of 1889-90, to organize two expeditions to the ChinLushai country, a comparatively barbarous district, on the borders of India and Burmah. During the military operations the country was surveyed, and it was hoped that the march of the British troops would not only put an end to the incessant depredations of these turbulent tribes, but enable roads to be constructed, and open up the province. In the latter object the expeditions were successful, but probably some time will elapse before the warlike mountaineers are reduced to subjection.

In April 1889 the misgovernment of the Maharajah of Cashmere became so intolerable that he abdicated voluntarily. The functions of government were entrusted to a Council of Regency, headed by his brother, and controlled by the British

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Resident. In this year also the railway on the North-West Frontier, the construction of which had been suspended for a time on the retirement of the British in 1881, was completed at a cost of about 13 crores of rupees. A line from Pishin through Dera Ismail Khan to Lahore was surveyed in 1890; and the Khojak Tunnel, 12,600 feet long, the cost of which was estimated at half a million sterling, was finished. The frontier defences were also vigorously pushed on, though they were not completed for several years. They include a strongly intrenched position covering the railway terminus, in front of Quetta, where an arsenal has been established; fortified intrenchments at Attock and Rawul Pindi, at the mouth of the Khyber Pass; and an inner line of defence, comprising fortifications at Sukkur, Multan, Ferozepore, Shershah, and Bahawulpur. The great harbours on the coast, Bombay, Calcutta, Karachi, and Rangoon, have also been fortified. In pursuance of the same plan of defence, the armies of the native feudatory states have been organized on a more efficient footing, under British supervision.

The Indian Congress at Bombay was visited this year by Mr Bradlaugh, the member for Northampton, but interest in it had begun to decline, and in the following year the number of delegates fell from 2000 to 1400. The year 1890 was marked by the visit to India of H.R.H. the late Duke of Clarence, who received a cordial and magnificent reception from all classes; and by the resignation of the Duke of Connaught as Commander-in-Chief of the Bombay army. He was succeeded by Sir G. Greaves.

In the beginning of 1891 it was found necessary to undertake another punitive expedition to the Black Mountains, where the tribes had again begun to give trouble. It was brilliantly carried out under General, afterwards Sir, W. Lockhart. During the spring the different tribes were effectually coerced into submission, and by the end of the year the combination against British authority had completely collapsed. Alarm was again excited by the movements of the Russians. A body of Russian troops marched into what is known as the "Pamir district," and Chitral, to the north-east of Afghanistan, and advanced into British Indian and Afghan territory. Two English officers, who were on duty in that part of the country, fell in separately with the Russian force under Colonel Yanoff. One was placed temporarily under arrest, and both were escorted by the Russian soldiers out of what their commander styled "newly acquired

Russian territory.' The Chinese were also compelled by the Russians to withdraw from the Alichur Pamir, over which they claimed the right of sovereignty. It was the first time that Russian troops had been seen south of the Hindu-Koosh range.

A disturbance which led to the gravest consequences arose in the small protected State of Manipur, on the borders of Assam and Burmah. In 1890 the Maharajah of Manipur abdicated, and was succeeded by one of his four brothers. The Imperial Government were dissatisfied with the conduct of the new ruler, or the "Jubraj," as he was called, and determined to depose and banish him. Mr Quinton, the Chief Commissioner of Assam, was sent in March 1891, with a body of about 500 native troops, to announce his deposition to the Jubraj, and to arrest him. It was intended to make him prisoner at a durbar held by Mr Quinton the day after his arrival. Some delay occurred in carrying out these plans, the suspicions of the Jubraj were aroused, and he excused himself from the durbar. As he persistently refused to appear, a body of 250 troops were sent to seize him in his palace. They encountered a strenuous opposition from the Jubraj's army of 6000 men, and during the fight in the streets one of the officers, Lieutenant Brackenbury, was mortally wounded. Notwithstanding the heavy fire with which they were received, the British succeeded in occupying the palace, but the Jubraj had already escaped. Under pretence of a parley, Mr Quinton, Mr Grimwood the Resident, Colonel Skene, in command of the troops, and three other British officers, were persuaded to go to the palace without a military escort, and were all barbarously murdered. Jubraj's troops now attacked the Residency, to which the small British force, under the command of Captains Butcher and Boileau, had withdrawn. After sustaining a fire of some hours, it was considered impossible to hold the place longer, and the troops, with Mrs Grimwood, the wife of the late Resident, succeeded in effecting their retreat into British territory. Three weeks later a rescue force captured Manipur, and took the leaders of the revolt prisoners. The Jubraj and the general who had ordered the massacre of the British officers were put to death, the others were transported for life, and the administration of the State was placed in the hands of an English Resident, until the majority of the newly chosen Rajah, a child belonging to a former royal house. A gallant attempt to relieve Manipur had been made by Lieu

The

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553 tenant Grant, who with a handful of men threw himself into the fort of Thobal, and held it for some days against 600 Manipuris. For this service he received the Victoria Cross and his majority. In consequence of the inquiry into their conduct during the rebellion at Manipur, Captain Butcher and Captain Boileau resigned their commissions.

The Imperial census taken this year showed that the population of the British dominions in India had increased by twenty-two millions.

March 27, 1893.

E. M. D.