The late Maharajah of Cooch Behar,[7] as I have said, was practically the first Indian Prince to adopt English customs, and, with his family, mixed freely in European society. By doing so he helped greatly the cause of friendly intercourse between the two races and did much to break down the great barrier between Briton and Indian. But, be it remembered, that barrier is not of the white man's raising. Educated Indians when in England, complain bitterly to sympathising audiences that in their own land they are not admitted freely into Anglo-Indian society. And the cry is taken up parrot-like and echoed in the British Isles by people absolutely ignorant of Indian conditions. The educated native, fresh from the boarding-houses of Bayswater, claims that he has a right to be introduced to a white man's house, to his wife and daughters. But he would hardly let a European see the face of _his_ wife or permit him to enter anywhere but the fringe of his domicile. He has all the Oriental's contempt for women, and yet demands to be freely admitted to the society of English ladies, for whom in his heart he has no respect. And we who live in the land know it. But until he emancipates his own womenkind he cannot reasonably expect to be allowed a familiar footing in an Englishman's home. FOOTNOTES: [6] He died in A.D. 1913, and was succeeded by his brother, Prince Jitendra. [7] He died in 1911; and his eldest son and successor, Rajendra, died in 1913. Prince Jitendra is now Maharajah. CHAPTER XII A MILITARY TRAGEDY In the Mess--A gloomy conversation--Murder in the army--A gallant officer--Running amuck on a rifle-range--"Was that a shot?"--The alarm--The native officer's report--The "fall in"--A dying man--A search round the fort--A narrow escape--The flight--Search parties--The inquiry into the crime--A fifty miles cordon--An unexpected visit--Havildar Ranjit Singh on the trail--A night march through the forest--A fearsome ride--The lost detachment--An early start--The ferry--The prisoner--A well-planned capture--The prisoner's story--The march to Hathipota--Return to the fort--A well-guarded captive--A weary wait--A journey to Calcutta--The escort--Excitement among the passengers on the steamer--American globe-trotters--the court martial--A callous criminal--Appeal to the Viceroy--Sentence of death--The execution.