§ MR. EYKYNsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether his attention has been called to the Petition of Nawab Seeda Abdoul, claiming to be the rightful Nawab of Jungera; whether it is true, as stated in such Petition, that the reigning Nawab has kept for many years, and is still keeping, the family of Nawab Seeda Abdoul in confinement in a fortress at sea; and, whether the Government have taken any and what steps for their release?
MR. GRANT DUFFSir, to the first of my hon. Friend's Questions I am able to give a direct answer. My attention has been called to this petition, and there is no validity whatever in the claim of the petitioner. To the second Question I cannot give so direct an answer, for the following reason:— 232 Our relations with the small maritime State of Jungera are of the most curious kind. Unconquerable by our predecessors in the sovereignty of Western India, this little State, although absolutely insignificant in point of material strength, has been unconquered even by us. The attitude of Jungera towards the British Government is partly courteous, partly apprehensive, partly repellent. This attitude our authorities respect, never interfering except when absolutely forced to do so. Although Jungera is so near Bombay, its rude independence is not tempered by the presence of a British Resident, and hence we have not the same facilities for knowing what goes on there that we have with reference to most native Courts. The tenour of such information as has reached us about the affair to which my hon. Friend calls attention is at variance with the information that has reached him, but we intend to make some further inquiries into the matter.