KHAMTI TO INDIA 



wide, with a slow current. In the west and north-west we per- 

 ceived the distant ranges behind which lies an unexplored 

 territory, the Tsangpo valley. In the course of the afternoon 

 we disembarked at Sadiya, where hearty greetings were exchanged 

 with Mr. Needham. 



Sadiya is the extreme north-east outpost of the British Indian 

 Empire. Mr. Needham's position is that of Assistant to the Political 

 Service, and he is in supreme and sole charge. He has passed 

 twenty-eight years in India, and exercises the functions of Resident, 

 judge, and commandant of the troops, of whom there are one 

 hundred under native officers. Another five hundred sepoys could 

 be summoned by telegraph within twelve hours, should emergency 

 arise. In addition to the importance involved by his relations 

 with the frontier tribes, he governs in and around Sadiva more 

 than sixty thousand people. After twenty - eight years passed 

 in India, thirteen of which have been spent in the district, he 

 speaks, besides Hindustani, — Bengali, Thai (of which he has 

 compiled a Grammar), Singpho, Assamese, Abor (also with a 

 Grammar in preparation), and Mishmi. What an e.xample to 

 France of the right man in the right place ! and what a simpli- 

 fication of the world of vice-rdsidents, commis de rdsidence, and 

 chanceliers all engaged in manipulating the papers which we deem 

 indispensable to the administration of a province. Here, one hand 

 controls the whole. It is true that he is well paid, and that 

 after thirty years' service he will be entitled to a pension. He 

 submits his claim for travelling expenses, and it is discharged 

 to him direct. There is none of that system of mistrust to which 

 we are too prone. The English place implicit confidence in the 

 zeal of their officers to work their hardest for the interests of 

 their empire. 



351 



