not only to keep the peace within our border, and to
hold in check the large armies maintained by Rajahs
of various degrees, but also to defend a population of
two hundred and fifty-two million souls (according to
the census taken in 1881) from all foreign agression.
These native forces, although very formidable-looking
on paper, as aggregating three hundred thousand men,
do not, on closer inspection, present elements for any
serious apprehension of danger ; for, however numerous,
the greater part are mere rabble—ill-clad, noisy, and
badly armed ; nor do they possess an artillery enabling
them to cope with European troops of all arms; moreover
the possibility of a successful insurrection or mutiny
has been very much minimised by the introduction
of railways and telegraphs ; although too much
reliance must not be placed upon these either, for
nothing is easier for rebels than to tear up the rails
and cut the wires; besides, during the hot season,
large numbers of European troops, and more especially
officers, occupy the military Sanitaria, now so much
in vogue, at a considerable distance from their
base.
The following gives the approximate strength of the
forces kept up by Indian Princes, compiled from statements
which appeared in the Times of 2nd September,
1878, and 29th July, 1879 :—
Mahratta. Rajpootana.
Oodeypore .................... 21,400
Jeypore ....................... 14,000
" Judhpore ........................ 9,600
Other Rajs .................... 47,500
—---- 92,500
Gwalior .........................22,000
Baroda............................. 19,500
Indore ............. 10,000
------- 51,500
Bundelcund ............................ 25,000
Hyderabad ........ 45,000
Cashmere......................................... 20,000
Minor States .................................71,000
305,000
Besides, independent Nepaul has an army of 50,000
to 100,000 men.