Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/16

IV and usurped the post of Minister in 1845 A.D. Next year Jung Bahadur perpetrated the notorious massacre in which about 150 Gurkha Sirdars were killed and thereby put his own office of Minister beyond all dispute. Soon after, he got rid of the Rani, at whose instigation he was led through these paths of cruelty. Ultimately, however, peace was restored and Surendra Vikramshah was raised to the throne.

Jung Bahadur laid the foundation of that curious system of administration in Nepal in which the Minister is the ruler de facto, and the King, a mere cypher in his hand. Jung Bahadur was friendly with the British. He visited England in 1850 A.D., and it was owing to the impression made on his mind by the vastness of British resources that he, not only firmly resisted all overtures to rise against the English in the great Mutiny of 1857 A.D., but on the contrary, went with a force of 8,000 Gurkhas to succour the English, and helped them to recapture Gorakhpur and Lucknow. Jung Bahadur died in 1857 A.D., but not before he had secured the succession to the office of Minister among his own brothers and after them to his son. In 1881 A.D., Maharaja Prithwi Weer Vikramshah, then a mere child of six years, succeeded his grandfather. In 1885 A.D. a conspiracy was formed against the Minister, Ranadeep Singh, who was killed; and Weer Samsher, a nephew of Jung Bahadur, assumed the post of Minister. Under his rule the country enjoyed peace and prosperity. He introduced a number of administrative reforms, and was liberal, moderate and just. Weer Samsher died in 1901 A.D. and was succeeded by his brother, Dev Samsher; but the new Minister was, within three months, deposed by his brother, Chandra Samsher, who is the present Minister. He attended the Durbar at Delhi in 1903 A.D. and has been very friendly with the British Government.

The area of Nepal is 54,000 square miles with a population of over 40 lacs. The Maharaja is entitled to a salute of 21 guns from the British Government. The government of the country is in the hands of the Minister, who, though assisted by a Council, issues his own orders without consulting either the King, or the Council. He spends the public money; makes all appointments, civil and military; confers all titles; and disposes of all appeals from the judicial courts established in the country for the disposal of civil and criminal matters. The revenue of the State has recently been greatly increased and stands at about two crores of rupees. Nepal has its own coinage though British coin is exchanged in the Nepalese market. It has its own Postal service; and there is also a British Post Office at Khatmandu. The standing army of Nepal is 25,000, out of which 2,500 are artillery-men. Every able-bodied man is liable to a compulsion of military service in times of danger. The Nepalese Government is extremely jealous of all foreigners and does not allow them to enter the country except by a fixed route and under strict surveillance. The State does not allow any railway or telegraph communication to be established in Nepal. There is immense mineral wealth in Nepal, but it remains unexlored and unutilized.

The State of Nepal enjoys complete independence so far as its internal affairs are concerned; but, like other Native States of India, its foreign relations are controlled by the British Government, and a British Resident is stationed at Khatmandu.