Page:The Aristocracy of Southern India.djvu/77

 H. H. The Maharajah op Bobbili. 59

It is with the greatest satisfaction I have heard the tribute of praise which yon have bestowed upon the Rajah of Bobbili who, as you say, has endowed you with many useful public institutions, and they are valuable works to that extent. You admit that you are supplied with schools, hospitals, and other charitable institutions, and that water-supply has been amply provided for. This is a very high tribute of gratitude and praise to your enlightened Rajah. In consequence of his munificence towards you, you say that there is very little left for you to ask at my hands. *****

I am glad to be able to join with you in congratulating ourselves on the success of the efforts of the Government to withstand the horrors of famine and distress during last year. I take this opportunity of expressing the gratitude of the Government for the efforts that were made by the Rajah himself to assist the people in his own immediate neighbourhood, and I wish also not to lose this opportunity of expressing the high appreciation of my Government of the skill, zeal and devotion of the District Officers under extremely difficult and trying circumstances. I thank you once more for the welcome you have accorded to me here."

In proposing the health of the Rajah at the entertainment given to His Excellency in the evening of the same day, the latter spoke thus:—

"I thank you, Rajah, for the kind and too flattering terms in which you have proposed the toast of my health.

I thank you, gentlemen, also for having so cordially responding to it. It is true, as the Rajah remarked, that the determining cause of my visit to the Circars was his