Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/153

134 Governor-General in Central India. As His Highness was then only 10 years old a long minority ensued, and the State was during a period of about 13 years (1896-1908 A.D.) administered by the Political Agent in Bhopal through a Superintendent.

His Highness received during this period education and training, best calculated to fit him for discharging with ability the high duties of his exalted position, and after a distinguished career at the Mayo College and the Imperial Cadet Corps, was invested with full ruling powers in his State on the 11th March 1909 A.D. The Hon'ble Colonel H. Daly, the Agent to Governor-General in Central India, who had specially come to perform the interesting ceremony, in the course of his speech on the occasion observed:—

"It is now a little more than 12 years since Your Highness was formally installed on the gadi by that good friend of Central India, my distinguished predecessor. Sir David Barr. In the records of the ceremony on that occasion and in the papers connected with your selection for the Chiefship, I find that, even at your then early age, a confident hope was entertained that your character and conduct would fully justify that selection. Looking back now upon your school career, upon your service with the Imperial Cadet Corps, and specially upon the manner in which, during the past year, you have studied ' to qualify yourself for your duties and responsibilities, and to acquire a direct personal knowledge of your State and your subjects it is a great pleasure to your friends to feel how amply the hopes of your first boyhood have been fulfilled. We believe that the record of the coming years will show that you yield to none in devoted loyalty to His Majesty the King Emperor, and in the earnest desire to rule for the happiness and advantage of those who are committed to your charge."

His Highness Raja Arjun Singh has, since his investiture with full ruling powers, carried on the administration of the State personally. That he has amply fulfilled the expectations of Supreme Government is evident from the recent orders of the Government of India conferring plenary powers in the criminal cases upon His Highness.

His Highness is even at this early period of his career showing signs of being a just and benevolent ruler, and is ever indefatigable in devising means to make his State prosperous and his 1 subjects happy and contented.

A son and, heir was born to His Highness in September 1909 A.D. The Prince who is named Maharaj Kunwar Vikram Singhji is now two years old.

The State has an area of 734 square miles and the population of 1,09,854 souls according to the latest Census.' The gross total revenue of the State is about six lacs of rupees.

The present Chief of Narsingarh, His Highness Raja Arjun Singh Bahadur, is entitled to a salute of 11 guns.