INDIA 



2949 



INDIA 



The Coming of the Europeans. The first to 

 arrive were the Portuguese, who early in the 

 sixteenth century seized some ports on the west 

 coast, and by 1613 the English, too, had estab- 

 lished themselves. Soon came the French, and 

 between them and the English a rivalry sprang 

 up. In 1744, while the two countries were at 

 war in Europe, open hostilities broke out in 

 India as well, but not until 1757, when Clive 

 won the decisive battle of Plassey, was it 

 really settled which was to be the dominant 

 power in the peninsula. From that time, 

 largely through the genius of Clive, England 

 has held that rich territory as its own posses- 

 sion. 



The British Empire. Next to Clive, the most 

 famous of the early English administrators was 

 Warren Hastings, who in 1774 was made first 

 Governor-General of India. He it was who 

 laid the foundations for -the present system of 

 administration in the empire. Wars with na- 

 tive states were frequent, and in every one of 

 them the British made some gain; and if at 

 times the methods used were open to criticism, 

 in many ways the people of India were bene- 

 fited. Feeling that a "buffer state" was needed 

 on the north to protect India from the inva- 

 sions of foreign powers, Great Britain under- 

 took the first Afghan War in 1839. Defeated 

 in the early campaigns, the British forces were 

 later successful, but ultimately Great Britain 

 gave up its hold on Afghanistan, but retains 

 control of its foreign relations. 



A Great Crisis. In 1857 occurred .the Sepoy 

 Rebellion, the most impressive event in the 

 history of British India. To the British the 

 determining causes seemed small and unimpor- 

 tant such superstitions as that which forbade 

 the natives to bite the cartridges greased with 

 the fat of the sacred cow and the despised pig; 

 but to the natives themselves they were real 

 enough to dictate a very real rebellion. The 

 events of this outbreak are treated in the arti- 

 cle SEPOY REBELLION. Its effects were far- 

 reaching, for it resulted in the transfer of the 

 government of India from the East India Com- 

 pany (which see) to the Crown. Not until 

 years later, in 1877, was the queen actually pro- 

 claimed Empress of India.' 



The Last Half Century. Meanwhile, despite 

 occasional native risings, famines and problems 

 manifold, there was marked progress in India, 

 which was steadily becoming one of the most 

 valuable colonies possessed by any European 

 nation. The Afghan War of 1878-1880 was an 

 unusually-sharp conflict which resulted in the 



success of the British, and in 1885 the rich ter- 

 ritory of Burma was annexed to British hold- 

 ings. Another serious outbreak occurred on the 

 Afghan frontier in 1897, but again the British 

 were in the end victorious. Particularly dis- 

 tressing was the great famine of 1899, which 

 caused untold suffering to millions of people, 

 and the British acquired a hold on the affec- 

 tions of the people by their efforts to allay the 

 distress. The' attitude of Great Britain toward 



A RULING PRINCE 



The maharajahs possess jewels of almost fabu- 

 lous value, and these are worn on all state occa- 

 sions. 



Tibet almost led to an open break with Russia, 

 but in 1903 that difficult mountain country was 

 in a measure opened up to trade with England 

 by the spectacular expedition of Colonel Young- 

 husband. 



All classes in India were not placidly con- 

 tent with British rule, and at intervals it has 

 been necessary to put down risings which were 

 inspired by men of the educated classes who 

 dreamed of a free and self-governing India. In 

 a manner the discontent was allayed by the 

 appointment of Hindus to various offices, and 

 the welcome which George V received on his 

 visit to India in December, 1911, was most en- 

 thusiastic, while the Durbar (which see), held 

 to celebrate the crowning of the sovereign as 

 Emperor of India, was of unparalleled mag- 

 nificence. During this visit of King George the 



