POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY 247
itself surrounded by small independent tracts of hill
country which can hardly be classed as states.
Amongst this large number of independent (or semiindependent)
 states, the form of government varies as
much as does the measure of their independence.
According to Sir John Strachey, the Muhammadan
and Maratha states (Haidarabad, Bhopal, Bahawalpur,
Gwalior, Indore, and Baroda) enjoy the largest measure
of independence although they are all comparatively
recent creations, and have all of them called for British

F1G. 77.—Native States, Northern 'r

interference at one time or another. None of them are
much older than the British rule in India, and none of
them possess ancient dynasties or an historical nobility.
The rulers are as foreign to the people as the English
Residents at their courts, the nobility are but high officials
of the state who owe their position to their chiefs, and
their armies are composed of foreign mercenaries. It
is a mistake to suppose that the vast population under
Muhammadan or Maratha rule is governed by native chiefs
who have any more right or title to their high position
than has the English Government; and it is quite an
open question whether they prefer the foreign administra-