onourable. It seems to me that the
position here is very much like that in the Deccan. Scindia,
Holkar, and the Rajahs of Berar and Kolapoore are practically
independent of the Peishwa, who maintains only a semblance of
authority. From what the interpreter tells me, there seems to be
only a puppet rajah who, today, possesses no authority whatever;
but who, tomorrow, may excite a quarrel among the other chiefs, and
again become their master.

"I think that, in the first place, I shall have to see this
semi-independent chief, whose possessions Singapore forms part of;
and afterwards the Rajah of Johore, his nominal master.

"The latter may view the matter in one of two ways. In the first
place, he may consider the island of no importance, whatever;
seeing that, even were he again its master, no revenue could be
obtained from the handful of people living there; and would
therefore be glad to ratify the cession to us, for a small sum. On
the other hand, he may consider that the elevation of the island,
into the position of a great European trading port, would add
greatly to the power and importance of the tumangong, and might
enable him to make himself master of the whole of Johore."

"It seems a complicated business, certainly," the sailor replied.
"You see, though this rebel chap, having written to Calcutta, may
be trusted to receive you hospitably; there is no saying what the
rajah may think of it."

"Nor is it clear how I am to get at the rajah," Harry remarked.
"The tumangong would, no doubt, object to my going beyond what he
considers as his territory; as it might seem that, did he let me do
so, he would be recognizing the power of the rajah to interfere in
his business. However, it is certain that I must carry home a clear
report on the situation; and to do that I must, at any rate,
attempt to see the rajah.

"Of course we must endeavour to learn, from the Malays on the
island, whether Johore still holds any territory running down to
the sea, or whether the coast chiefs have also revolted against
him. In the first case, I will send up a native, to say that I have
a mission from the Governor General of India to visit his court;
but if he is cut off from the sea, I must endeavour to make my way
through, somehow. It would never do to return with only half a
story. I do not suppose the Governor General is at all aware of the
state of things here, or that the chief who communicated with him
is not the acknowledged