Page:The Aristocracy of Southern India.djvu/35

 H. H. The Nawab of Banganapalli. 21

Hindustani. She took an active interest in female education. Her noble disposition, her generous instincts, her dislike of ostentation, her respect of all that is true and good, were some of the characteristics calculated to raise her in the estimation of those who had known her personally and render her an object of admiration, gratitude and love to her dependants. In 1886 she obtained the Naw^ab's permission to visit Palestine. She, accompanied by her children, went on a pilgrimage to Karbala and other holy places. The Nawab being anxious about the safety of his family sought the assist- ance of Government, through the Political Agent, when they issued the following general letter : —

Letter TO ALL BRITISH AUTHORITIES WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.

"The bearer, who is the Begum of the Nawab of Banganapalli, a native State, within the jurisdiction of the Government of Madras, is proceeding with her children and suite, consisting of about 30 followers, on a pilgrimage to Ninevah (Karbala in Irak Arabi), and expects to pass through Basurah, Bagdad, Najef, Samrah, and Kazmeen. It is requested that the Begum may be treated with due respect, and that such help may be afforded to her, both on her forward and return journe;(i> as she may be in need of "

It is hardly necessary for us to say that the Begum was treated with due respect and attention in her travels, and while at Bagdad an escort of eight sowars was furnished to her by the Turkish Governor of that place. She died one year after her return from Karbala.