382 India. 



the need of a foreign language will be attractive to 

 most Americans. 



The British, like other nations, gained a foothold in 

 India for trading purposes during the 17th century. 

 This they extended during the 18th century, especially 

 after they had attained the ascendancy by Clive's 

 subjection, in 1757, of the great Mogul, one of the 

 most powerful native princes. By conquest and 

 amicable arrangement, the territory of British in- 

 fluence was gradually increased through the agency 

 of the East India Company, until, in 1858, the British 

 government in India was formally established by 

 royal proclamation; and, in 1877, it was declared an 

 empire. 



As stated, native princes still control, under British 

 influence and restrictions, over one-third of the coun- 

 try, or a territory of nearly 700,000 square miles, 

 divided into 13 feudatory states. The total area 

 under direct British control and government is 

 1,087,000 . square miles, of which 2^er_cent. (280,000 

 square miles) is probably f orested and waste , some 

 232,000 square miles or nearly 150 million acres of 

 which are so far declared government property. 



The British territory is divided into th ree pre si- 

 dencies (Madras, Bombay and Bengal) and nine 

 provinces , each with a separate government under a 

 governor, or commissioner, with a council, and all 

 subject to control by the resident governor-general 

 or viceroy and his council, and he in turn is responsible 

 to the Secretary of State at home. 



There is, however, little centralization of govern- 



