INDIA, NATIVE STATES OF. The native States of India •ole.j..1, of over 1;1)(1 Stales, which do not eoine under the administrative system of British India, but have %.arying degrees if independence, and are mostly governed by native iiritices. Many of the States are quite small, but some are very large. The total area is 679.:193 square miles, with a population of W2,41;1,519. It is note worthy that, excepting Travancore, these States are located in the interior of the country. The population is very heterogeneous. In many of the States the ruler belongs to a minority or alien race and religion.
The early policy of (lie East India. Company was to make alliances with the different States, recognizing the native princes as its equals. The plan did not prove satisfactory, as it was int pessible to preserve harmony while the native princes were not subject to more. positive re straint. The policy was then introduced of rec ognizing them as subordinates, and limiting their military forces, the British themselves guaran teeing protection, and taking charge of the ex ternal relations of these States. In the middle of the nineteenth century the policy of annexa tion was followed for a short time—Ondli, for example, being annexed in 1S511. But since the Sepoy Alutiny (1557) the policy has been to allow the States to enjoy a share of independ ence under native rulers. The extent to which the British authority is exercised over the na tive States varies greatly between different States and at different times in the same State. They are not permitted to make wars or to reeeive for eign consuls. The commercial treaties made by the British embrace also the native States, their interests being recognized nc identieal with those of the provinces. The guaranty of protection implies the right to establish such military forces within the native territories as the pur poses of defense demand. and to have control of railroads and telegraph lines which :ire not eal,' i.e. do not begin and end within the States. Each State is thus protected from external at tack and ;nternal revolt. and a large local army is not necessary.
Since the peace of the Empire is in danger of being 'broken by disputes IA (.1. the suceession to the rulership in any State, or the rule of certain eandidates may he deemed prejudicial to the Imperial welfare, the British may intercede to determine .who the successor shall be, and no one to whom they °N•el can he advanced to the chieftaincy. If flagrant and intolerable instances of misrule arise, the right of Interferenee is pre sumed to follow as a further consequence from the rsle the Imperial plays as guar antor of protection of States' general wel fare. Under special eircumstanees, as. for in stance, the murder of a British commissioner, the British have resorted to some extraordinary methods of interference. But ordinarily in the important States the rulers are given a free hand in determining the State policy and execut ing it. In the numerous small States the Impe rial jurisdiction is usually much more extensive, and many of them are administered by a British officer in the name of the chieftain. The British at times have exercised absolute rule even in some of the larger States. Their rule in Mysore had extended over half a century when ( ISSI ) it was restored to native rule. Some of the States pay a tribute to the British, but it is al ways small, and usually by way of compensation for special services. The policy of allowing na tive States to exist alongside of British prov inces has its advantages and disadvantages. Eminent Indian officials hold that as far as British interests are concerned it would be bet ter to annex a number of the leading States. The fact that this is not done is assumed to be an evidence of the unselfish motives of the Imperial policy. The proximity of the native States causes such inconveniences as rise out of the dif ferent prevailing systems of currency, limitations in the development of the Imperial irrigation system, and violations of the regulations concern ing the growing of the poppy. It also tends to render certain laws inoperative—as, for instance, those against infanticide.