Alwar's Holiday

Lean, hard Sir Jey Singhji Bahadur, Maharaja of Alwar. is the man who annually distributes his weight in silver to the poor. Polo and racquets keep him down to about $500 worth. In January H. H. sent out a hurry call for British troops, insisting that 15,000 bearded Meos tribesmen were terrorizing Hindu shopkeepers, making things too hot for his own little army of 500. The troops came, the revolt stopped instantly (TiME, Jan. 23).

Inquisitive British officials followed the troops. To their surprise they found Al-war's finances a Chinese puzzle of mounting debts. Instead of being gangsters, the Meos had revolted against overpowering taxes. Britain offered to lend the -L-375,000 needed to straighten out the state's finances on one condition: that the Maharaja take a little trip for two years, cut his privy purse to two lakhs of rupees ($60,000).

Protesting. His Highness made a dramatic entrance into his capital city barefoot, holding a large basin of Ganges water over his head. Even this did not affect the stony British Government. As a last resort he telegraphed the Viceroy, Lord Willingdon, for permission to postpone his departure till Friday--much more propitious astrologically. This too was refused. His Highness left on Monday.

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