Page:The Golden Book of India.djvu/18

xvi called Diwán; while in the Punjab the heir-apparent of a territorial Sardár is sometimes also called Sardár, but more commonly he bears the title of Mián.

The curious Marumakkatayam law of inheritance which prevails in Malabar and the extreme south of India under which the succession is to the offspring of the female members of the family, among whom the next eldest to the Rájá is the heir-apparent makes it very fitting that the rank of an heir-apparent, in those parts of India, should be marked by special titles. The heir-apparent to His Highness the Mahárájá of Travancore is often called by Europeans the First Prince of Travancore; but his proper courtesy title is "the Elaya Rájá." The same title is borne by the heir-apparent to His Highness the Maharájá of Cochin. The heir-apparent to the Zamorin of Calicut bears, by courtesy, the interesting title of "The Eralpad." It will be seen that, under the Marumakkatayam law, no son of a Rájá can ever be in the line of succession; these receive the courtesy title of Achchhan.

The colloquial use of the dynastic titles of Sindhia and Holkar may be illustrated by a somewhat similar Scottish usage, by which the actual Chief or Laird is colloquially known by the name of his estate. Mr. Cameron becomes "Lochiel" the moment he succeeds to the estate of that name; so one of these young Princes becomes "Sindhia" the moment he succeeds to the Gwalior Ráj, and the other becomes "Holkar" the moment he succeeds to the Indore Ráj—the junior members of these ruling Houses using the title as their family name.

9.—ARMORIAL BEARINGS. The Editor has already pointed out, in an earlier section of this Intro- duction, the need that exists for the services of an Indian King of Arms and an Indian Heralds' College. Such an institution, provided due regard were paid to Indian sentiments and prejudices, would be immensely popular among the Chiefs and notables of India ; and a very considerable revenue might yearly be raised, with the greatest goodwill on the part of those who would pay it, from a moderate duty, similar to the one levied in the United Kingdom, on the authorised use of hereditary cognisances or armorial bearings. At present an Indian noble is justly proud of a cognisance that has been honourably borne for centuries by his ancestors, and would prefer to use it with full legal authority ; but it is doubtful whether he can do so at all, except by a most difficult and most unusual application to the Earl Marshal of England and the Garter King of Arms in London, for an authorised grant. So, too, with more modern adoptions of coat-armour; these have been authorised by the College of Arms in London for the two Indian Baronets, and perhaps for a few more but as a rule the modus operandi is unknown.

Wherever the Editor has been able to obtain a sketch of the cognisance or device usually used by .any Chief or that has been emblazoned on his