The interval between the inaugur ration of Provincial Autonomy and the establishment of Federation ean-not in the nature of things be a long tone, and Tam encouraged in the confidence 1 feel in the future. that es. before Federal India by observations such as those which have fallen from Your Highness to-night venture to think that in emphasiz-
{tis not possible for the: Princes 40 Keep themselves aloof from the main currents of Indian life and polities, you have uttered a profound truth."
The special representative of the statesman," discussing the Viceregal tour as a whole, said: "The outstand-Ing incidents have been the visits the villages, These caught th Imagination of the entire countryside fond the villagers, hitherto considered to be remote from contacts with higher oMcials in India,. have "had their Jot in life focussed in an on-firely new perspective. Lord Linlithgow's concern for the villager Is move dramatic gesture. it is the reflection of a mind expert in agricultural lore, with a strongly held opinion that the real India lies in the, $00,000 vilinges which dot the plains."
An" interesting and picturesque ceremony took place in Benares city before His Exeellency's departure when he received the formal blessings of the Bandits, standing in a temproary shrine beside the. swift-flowing Ganges, before a wood fire which the Pondits raised to flame with handfulls of grain and sprinklings of ghee. The words of blessings were as fol. Jows:—"May the blessings of Lord Shiva, sitting with his Consort and Grenched with the nectar that flowed from the crescent moon, (situated fon the matted curls of his head as hhis sons the gods Ganesha and Kar~ {ka seated on his lap tugged at i), bring greatness unto you O Marquess of Linlithgow, and may the blessing: of the pious and learned bandiis of Benares crown all your desires with immediate fulfilment."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.