This Week's Books
Tins reviewer„ well remembers -the famous Sir Pratap, preux chevalier of that ancient line of warriors, the Rathores, Sons of the Sun,", whose pedigree extends back in a direct line for 1,400 years. The Life of Lient.-General H.H. Sir Pratap Singh has been compiled -by Mr. Van Wart (Oxford rniversity Press, 12s. 6d,), and should be read by everyone who wants to understand a little known side of Indian life, for Sir Pratap was a fine type of an aristocracy far older than any in the West, and with traditions that nothing in the age of (IA-airy can surpass. Although this book suffers slightly-from being an "official" life, it is full of gObd stories, to which we would add one more. Sir Pratap was watching a famous polo- playing Rajah, not unknown in England, whose caste is so high that his saddle has to be covered with linen cloth and his hands sheathed in linen gloves, so that neither the flesh of swine nor the unclean hands of the low-born should touch his person. Sir Pratap, also " twice-born," but of far older lineage, could afford to scoff at custom : he glanced at the Rajah, titupping about in his special gloves and saddle, and hammed up his opinion with this terse comment, " Looking
d-- - silly."
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