A FOSSIL STATE. 287 



The Maharaja laid a dak for us, and we drove in an open 

 carriage something like a Victoria, but made especially strong 

 for the road, or rather for the absence of one. Our luggage 

 and servants follow on tongas. 



About half-way is the small native state of Boondi. Its 

 Raja is one of the old school, uneducated, and ignorant of 

 any language except his own. His horoscope, drawn by the 

 court astrologer, predicted an early death in a house. To 

 avoid this fate he never enters one, living all the year round 

 in tents. He has a strong prejudice against made roads, 

 which he considers only serve to hurt horses' feet. Sandy 

 tracks and bullock-carts were good enough for his forefathers 

 and arc good enough for him. 



If anyone is in a hurry, why, horses were made for 

 galloping ! 



His theories on political economy would hardly suit our 

 Free Traders. Grain he forbids to be exported ; and meets 

 the argument that without trade and exchange of commodities 

 the wealth of his State will suffer, by stating that he wishes 

 grain, the staple food of his poorer subjects, to remain cheap ; 

 and is indifferent to a few merchants waxing rich on higher 

 prices. 



A twenty-mile drive takes us through this fossil little 

 State, and into the territory of the Kotah Raja. Here we found 

 a made road again, and a large carriage sent to meet us. 

 The President of the Council was also waiting to bid us 



