INTRODUCTION.
Four years ago, I wrote a small book on "Cashmere and its Prince," with the object of exposing the ungrounded nature of the attacks made against the Maharaja by his opponents, and of bringing to the notice of the highest authorities the true character of the imbroglio which had then recently taken place in his state. The politics of Cashmere have undergone considerable change since that book was written. The Maharaja, who was at that time a merely ornamental figure-head in his own territories, without any power to interfere in any of their affairs, has been since elevated to the Presidentship of his Council, whose deliberations he assists and shares in and, sometimes, even guides and controls. For this elevation, the Maharaja and his friends and well-wishers are indebted to His Excellency the Marquis of
