Slowly but surely the institution of slavery which has existed in many parts of India is being stamped out. The latest instance is that of Kalat, where, on November 4, 1926, a decree was signed by the Khan of Kalat abolishing the existence of private property in slaves. Kalat is a State in Baluchistan and from ancient times there has existed there a form of domestic servitude under which, in its most aggravated form, men-servants (ghulams) and' maidservants (kani:) were the absolute property of their masters, who could part wives from husbands and children from parents. There were no obligations on the part of the masters, who were not obliged to feed or clothe their slaves, and could even cast them out into the world to earn their living without in any way relinquishing their right to resume absolute power over them at any time.
The present decree really is the culmination of a long campaign against the evil, for from time to Lime steps have been taken to mitigate it, and as far back as 1914 worst features were abolished in Mekran, Progress, however, slower and more difficult in the wild tract of Jhlawan, but the Baluchistan "Administration cone sistently worked for the total abolition of the institution and sueceeded in 1925 in awakening' the active interest of His Highness the Khan, His Highness then gave th Agent to the Governor-General invitation to assist in putting an end to all forms of slavery in his State and, thus supported, His Highness has at length been able to overcome the opposition of his more backward tribal Sird A remarkable feature of the r0- form in this State is the fact that there has been no question of com: pensation for the slave-owners, Slaves who are content to remain with their masters may do 80, receiving as wages what they formerly received as maintenance, Those who are not content will be able to leave openly, instead of absconding, as formerly they wore obliged do, and many absconders. in Sind will be able to return to their homes without fear of molestation, "Twice-Born" Mr, MacDonald "I believe that am the only person living outside the ere has dined with. Brahmins caste. Not one of your apologetic high teas—anyone can go to India and be received by most select, Brahmins at high tea, 'MacDonald is reported to have at an international dinner organi by the Workers' Travel Association, which was attended by delegates from a half dozen countries. The Labour ex-Premier declared that ho had eat down at a full-dress Brahmin dinner at Madras and added:—"They thought that some of the things I had written about India were absolute proof that I was twice-born, and that, as a matter of fact, T'was a Brahmin'
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.