The majority of these titles are Hindu (derived chiefly from the Sanskrit language), or Muhammadan (derived chiefly from the Persian). The Burmese titles, though lengthy, are few in number; while still fewer are Arakanese (or Magh), Thibetan, Afghan, Baluch, Somáli, etc. Two distinguished Parsi families have received the English title of Baronet; while one Madras family, the descendants of the old Nawabs of the Carnatic, has the English title of "Prince of Arcot," called also "Amir-i-Arcot." The title of Prince is also often given by courtesy as the English rendering of the title of "Shahzáda," conferred by Her Majesty the Empress on certain descendants of the Tippu dynasty of Mysore, of the old kings of Oudh, and of former Amirs of Afghanistan.

Some Indian titles are personal; others have been recognised by Her Majesty as hereditary. It is intended in this work to distinguish those which are hereditary from those which are personal.

In the list of one hundred and ninety-six titles mentioned above (which is given below, in section II of this Introduction, with a glossary of their meanings where known), some are specific titles, analogous to the English "Duke," "Earl," etc.; such are Mahárájá, Rájá, Nawáb. Some are descriptive titles, somewhat analogous to the "Defender of the Faith" borne by our Gracious Sovereign; such are Shamsher Jang ("The Sword of War"), a title borne by His Highness the Mahárájá of Travancore, and Fath Jang, one of the many titles borne by His Highness the Nizám of the Deccan. Titles of the latter form are generally confined to a single personage or dynasty; but a few are common to more than one State, as Lokendra (“Proector of the World"), borne by the Chiefs of Dholpur and Dattia.

4. INDIAN TITLES: RULING CHIEFS.

The normal or typical title of Chiefs or Nobles of Hindu descent is Rájá (in the feminine Ráni), or some of its numerous kindred forms. Some of the latter are Ráná, Rao, Ráwal, Rawat, Rai, Raikwár, Raikbár, Raikat. Το these is added, to indicate excess of rank, the prefix Mahá ("Great"), as in Mahárájá, Maháráná, Mahárao, Maháráj-Ráná, etc. The affix Bahadur ("Brave," "The Hero") is very commonly added (as an extra honorific) to all Indian titles, Muhammadan as well as Hindu, and is placed at the end of the name, much like the English "Esquire." Saheb is a somewhat similar affix, and is very commonly used as a courteous form of address; when used as the supplement of a title it indicates a rank somewhat less than Bahadur, -thus Rao Baháȧur and Khán Bahádur are titles usually of rather more consideration than Rao Saheb or Khán Saheb. Thakur is also a frequently-used Hindu title. Some important feudatory Chiefs bear no other title, but it usually is of less consideration than Rájá.

Diwán and Sardár are titles very similar in character to that of Thákur; but they are common to Hindus and Muhammadans.

The normal or typical title of a Chief or Noble of Muhammadan descent

is Nawab (with Begam as its feminine form); usually with the honorific suffix of Bahádur, and in forms of courteous address with that of Saheb. The title of Sháhzáda (" King's Son ") is given to some descendants of the Tippu dynasty of Mysore, to some descendants of former Amirs of Kábul, and to some descendants of the old Kings of Oudh. Other Muhammadan titles— sometimes equivalent in consideration to Nawáb, but not always—are Wali, Sultán, Amir, Mir, Mirza, Mián, Khán; also Sardár and Diwán, which are common to Hindus and Muhammadans.

Among the Ruling Chiefs there are some exceptional titles, due sometimes to differences of language, sometimes to other known causes, and sometimes of unknown origin. The first and greatest of all the Princes of the Empire is always known as the Nizám of the Deccan-a relic of the time when His Highness's ancestors were mediatised kings under the Emperor of Delhi. The title, though implying in itself fealty to an Imperial authority, is one of the highest dignity, and can hardly be translated by any European title less august than "king"; it is therefore a suitable title for the first mediatised prince under the Indian Empire, charged with the absolute rule over an area more than twice as large as that of Bavaria and Saxony combined, and a population greater than that of the two kingdoms named.

Holkar and Sindhia are rather of the nature of dynastic names than of titles; and the Gaekwár (the title of one of the greatest of the Ruling Chiefs) is of a similar nature, having been originally a caste name; and all these three are relics of the Mahratta Empire.

Among the exceptional titles due to difference of language may be noticed that of Jám, which is of Sindhi or Baluch origin; there are two Jáms of ruling rank in Káthiáwár, and one in Baluchistán. The Ruler of Spiti, an outlying Himalayan principality in the Punjab, is known as the Nono of Spiti "Nono" being a Thibetan form. One of the Assamese Rájás is known as "the Bohmong"; another simply as "the Mong Rájá." Some of the Madras Chiefs have peculiar titles of local origin. Thus, the Mahárájá of Calicut bears the historic title of "the Zamorin "-probably a local corruption of the Malayalam Samundri, or "sea-king." The Mahárájá of Puducotta is known as "the Tondiman "; and some other Madras Rájás are called "the Valiya Rájá." Nine Feudatories (eight in the Bombay Presidency and one at Muscat in Arabia) bear the title of Sultán. The descendants of the ancient chiefs of Sind are called Mirs; the Chief of Afghanistan is called Amir. The Chief of Kalát in Baluchistán is both a Mir and a Wali, and has been created (like the Amir of Afghanistan) a Grand Commander of the Star of India. In the Aden territory, which is subordinate to the Bombay Government, some of the chiefs bear the title of Girad, which is of Somáli origin; others are known by the Arabic titles of Sultán, Amir, and Shaikh. Some of the heads of Hindu religious bodies are hereditary feudal chiefs; and their title is Mahant.

All, or most of the titles mentioned above, though recognised by the British Government, have come down to us from earlier times. Her

Majesty has, in a few very special cases, authorised a change of title among the Feudatories; as, for instance, when a Thákur Saheb has been authorised to use the higher title of Mahárájá Bahádur. But, generally speaking, when it is wished to confer honour on a ruling prince, it is conferred, not by a change in the ancient title of chiefship, but by appointment to one or other of the classes of the Orders of the Star of India or the Indian Empireby the addition of descriptive titles-by an increase in the number of guns authorised for the salute, such increase being usually a personal one-or by the conferment of Honorary military rank in the Imperial army.

5.-TITLES RECOGNISED, AND REGULARLY CONFERRED BY HER MAJESTY THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.

In British India there is now a well-established order and gradation of nobility; in which creations and promotions are made by Her Gracious Majesty's representative, the Viceroy, just as similar creations and promotions are made in England. In the higher ranks of this nobility, an additional step or grade in each rank is made by the custom, unknown as yet in England, of making the creation or promotion in some cases personal, in others hereditary. But no rank below that of Rájá for Hindus, or Nawáb for Muhammadans, is now created hereditary.

Rai (or Rao in Southern and Western India) for Hindus, and Khán for Muhammadans, are the first or least considerable titles conferred by the British Government. These, with or without the affix of Saheb, which adds to the dignity, are very commonly ex officio titles, held by the subordinate officers of civil departments. Next above Rai Saheb, Rao Saheb, or Khán Saheb comes the title Rai Bahadur, Rao Bahádur, or Khán Bahádur; and this is the title though it has sometimes also been made simply an ex officio titlewhich is usually first conferred on Indian gentlemen who have distinguished themselves by their munificence, by their patriotism, or in any other way. Rai Bahadur is commonly used as the Hindu title in the Bengal Presidency, Rao Bahadur as that in the west and south of India, and Khán Bahádur for Muhammadans and Parsis; and this rank seems exactly analogous to that of Knight Bachelor in England.

Above this rank is the title of Rájá (with the feminine Ráni) for Hindus, Nawab (with the feminine Begam) for Muhammadans; and this may be hereditary or personal-a remark which applies to all the higher ranks. Next higher is a Rájá Bahádur, or a Nawáb Bahádur. Higher again, for Hindus, is the title of Mahárájá, and above that is Mahárájá Bahádur. It is one of the many anomalies of the Indian system as at present existing, that there do not seem to be any Muhammadan analogies to these last two highest Hindu titles, so that a Nawab Bahádur may be the equal either of a Rájá Bahádur, or of a Mahárájá Bahádur, according to circumstance. These seem to be very analogous to the various steps in the British Peerage.

Parsis share with Muhammadans their lower titles.

But where they have

attained to higher rank than Khán Bahádur, it has been indicated by appointment to one of the Military Orders, or by the conferment of British Knighthood, or (in two cases) by a British Baronetcy.

The ordinary sequence of rank, then, in the aristocracy of British India, is indicated by the subjoined tables :

The eldest son of a Mahárájá or Rájá is called a Mahárájkumár (or Mahárájkunwár), or Rájkumár (or Rájkunwár), or simply Kumár (or Kunwár); and these titles have in some cases been formally conferred by the Government. Nawábzáda, or Mián, is the title given to the sons of Nawabs.

Among the Barons of the Punjab there is a remarkable uniformity of title; they are nearly all styled Sardár or Sardár Bahádur—and their sons are often styled Mián, though this is also an independent title, as is Diwán also, in the Punjab. In Oudh and in the Central Provinces, on the other hand, there is the greatest diversity in the form of the territorial titlesThákur being the commonest title, but Rai is also frequent (and of far higher dignity than it seems to bear in some other Provinces), and so are Rájá, Diwán, and Rao.

6. BURMESE TITLES.

The chiefs of the Shan and other tribes on the frontiers of Burma have the titles (equivalent to Rájá or Thákur, or other Indian titles) either of Sawbwa, or Myoza, or Ngwegunhmu.

But the regular Burmese titles ordinarily conferred by the British Government are these :

(1) Ahmúdan gaung Tazeik-ya Min (meaning "Recipient of a Medal for Good Service"), indicated by the letters A.T.M. after the name—much as the Companionship of the Bath in England is indicated by the letters C.B.

(2) Kyet Thaye zaung shwe Salwe ya Min (meaning "Recipient of the Gold Chain of Honour "), indicated by the letters K.S. M. after the name. (3) Thuye-gaung Ngweda ya Min (meaning "Recipient of the Silver Sword for Bravery "), indicated by the letters T.D.M. after the name.

7.-TITLES AS REWARDS FOR LEARNING.

It remains to notice two Imperial titles of ancient origin, as indicating exceptional distinction in learning, that were revived on the auspicious

occasion of Her Majesty's Jubilee. These are Mahámahopadhyaya for Hindus, and Shams-ul-Ulama for Muhammadans. It is noteworthy, as showing a wise regard for that reverence which great erudition has always commanded in the East, that holders of these titles, ranking equally among themselves according to date of creation, take rank directly after titular Rájás and Nawábs; and thus the dignity is rendered somewhat analogous to the high dignity of a Privy Councillor in the United Kingdom.

8.-COURTESY TITLES.

There are many titles habitually used in India-and a few have been admitted into this work—that are not substantive titles in the strictest sense of the term, but may best be described as courtesy titles. Of this nature is the title of "Prince" in most cases-though not in the case of the Prince of Arcot, who enjoys a title specially conferred by the Sovereign. The title of "His Highness," conferred or recognised by the Queen Empress, belongs as of right only to a limited number of the Feudatory Chiefs, and to a few of the Nobles of British India; but it is very generally conceded, as a matter of courtesy, to most of the Feudatory Chiefs and the greater Territorial Nobles. The title of "His Excellency" has been specially granted to one or two Chiefs; it is also commonly used, as a matter of courtesy, in addressing the responsible Ministers of the chief Feudatory States.

The owners of some great Zamindáris or estates, especially in Madras, are sometimes styled Rájá in common parlance, even when they have not received that title from the Sovereign. But there seems to be no authority for this; nor-so far as is known to the Editor, and with the few exceptions above noted-is any name inserted in this work as that of a Rájá, or as holding a similar title, unless recognised by the Government of India.

Immemorial usage throughout India has conferred well - recognised courtesy titles on the heirs-apparent of the greater titles; and in some cases on the second, third, fourth, and younger sons. There is at least one Rájá whose eldest son bears the courtesy title of Kunwar, the second son that of Diwán, the third that of Thákur, the fourth that of Lál, and the fifth and younger sons that of Bábu. It may here be noted that, in common use in Bengal, the title of Bábu has degenerated-like the French Monsieur and the English Esquire-into a mere form of address; but it belongs of right only to a very limited class—and particularly to the sons, not otherwise titled, of the greater titled personages. In Orissa, Chota Nágpur, and Central India, the eldest son of a Rájá or Thákur frequently bears the title of Tikait or Tikaildo; and sometimes (but rarely) the second son bears the title of Pothait or Pothaildo, and the third that of Lál. But in most, probably in all, cases, the younger sons are styled Bábu. In some of the Orissa Tributary Maháls, and in Manipur and in Hill Tipperah and elsewhere, the heir-apparent is styled Jubaráj or Yuvaráj. In some other parts he is