The palace at Baroda—Vasantha—Maharajah and Resident—Honours to the Empire—Dust of flowers—Life of a Native Ruler—Administration of Baroda—Alleged errors—Measures of reform—Social reform—The Maharani 312 CHAPTER XVIII SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION Our government of India—Danger of withdrawal to ourselves and India—Our probable successor if we withdrew—Signs of new spirit in India—Our contributions to new spirit—External causes of unrest—Suspicions of our justice and benevolence—How far inconsiderate—Plague, famine, and the drain of money—Where the Congress movement has failed—Our disregard of grievances has encouraged new methods—Extension of Swadeshi principle to all sides of life—The line of most resistance—To check “moral poverty”—But hopes of Moderate policy continue—Immediate reforms demanded—Change of heart essential but slow—Crisis calls for generous and definite reform—New spirit in India cannot be checked—Our own reputation for freedom at stake 320 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS TO FACE PAGE CONTEMPLATION _Frontispiece_ A STREET IN POONA 32 MR. GOKHALE 34 A HEALTH CAMP 50 IN A VILLAGE 50 A VILLAGE STREET 58 A STREET IN PLAGUE 58 MR. TILAK 64 THE RYOT’S HOME 92 CARRYING LEAVES FOR FUEL 92 ON THE CAUSEWAY 96 A VILLAGE HEADMAN 96 A TEMPLE TANK, MADRAS 102 A SERVANT OF VISHNU 106 THE END OF MAN 108 OFFERINGS TO THE DEAD 108 DANCE OF HIGH CASTE GIRLS IN MADRAS 122 HUNGER 136 MY ELEPHANT 140 A VILLAGE CROWD 140 THE TEMPLE OF EQUALITY 152 ON THE BRAHMAPUTRA 160 A TEMPLE TANK 186 A TEMPLE OF SHIVA 186 A TEMPLE OF SIKHS 200