SIKHIM AND BHUTAN.
Sikkim and .Bhutan. By John Claude White. (Edward Arnold. 21s. net.)—These two districts, which lie on the North-Eastern frontier of British India, are not a very important part of that vast Empire. They contain between them an area equal to about one-third of England, and have a population of something less than half-a-million. But it must not be supposed that Mr. White's book about them is wanting in interest. That is certainly not the case. Mr. White has spent more than twenty years there as the representative of the British raj, and we find in his pages a very instructive account of what it effects and a hint of where it fails. The climax of Mr. White's official activities was the installation of Sir Ugyen Wang-chuk as Maharajah of Bhutan. Self-government under prudent limitations was the object aimed at and achieved, but only on the eve of the Resident's departure. The future of the State seems full of promise. The Rajah is likely to be an excellent ruler. The result is surely something of which we may be reasonably proud. Here is a young Englishman called from a different occupation—he had been an engineer—to assist in the administration of a native State, and after twenty-odd years of work he sees this fruit of his labours. Nothing, we take it, could be better than the government by rulers who know what the people want, but are controlled, where control is needed, by a central power which, while wholly benevolent in its purposes, naturally has a wider outlook, and can so correct and restrain. And where is the defect? It lies not in goodwill, but in power. The Government is overweighted with work. Mr. White complains that his representations were not duly attended to. Doubtless it was because there was so much to be done elsewhere. And he contrasts his own long tenure of office with the rapid changes now common in official life. Perhaps there is the same cause at work. New wants have to be supplied on tho instant. But he sees in it one of the things which produce the present unrest. The people have not time to become acquainted with their rulers. We must not forget to praise the very beautiful photographs which illustrate the volume.
Previous page
