Some Books of the Week
The Land of Ranji and Duleep, by C. A. Kincaid (Black- wood, 12s. 6d.), does not entirely fulfil the promise of its title ; since it is concerned less with Nawanagar, with its ruler, and with his distinguished nephew, than with the heroic traditions of the House of Krishna. Indeed, " Ranji " himself, who contributes an introduction as effortless as one of his own innings, rightly sums it up as a " useful history-book " for the schools of his State. Thus, while it is well for English readers to remember the background of knightly chivalry which even to-day influences the policy and actions of the best type of Indian prince, there is some danger lest we should be led by Mr. Kincaid to dwell over- much upon the past to the exclusion of the present. At a time when the political importance of the Indian States is at length appreciated, a sympathetic and intimate study of the Kingdom of Nawanagar and of its ruler would have been of real value. But the author has devoted only a single chapter—by far the most interesting in the book—to that work of development and of reconstruction, to those whole- hearted and strikingly successful efforts for the promotion of the well-being of his people, which are " Ranji's " truest title to fame. He is in truth the creator of modern Nawa- nagar : and we would gladly know far more than Mr. Kincaid tells us of the difficulties which he had to overcome before his State attained its present level of advancement and of prosperity. From this point of view, the book would have been much improved by the addition of some good maps and diagrams ; for the bare statistics quoted by the author, remarkable as they are, need to be set out in graphical form if their true meaning is to be appreciated.
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