In this seminal work originally published in 1899, Surendra Nath Roy provides a detailed account of the history and political organization of the Indian princely states during the era of British colonialism. Drawing on a vast array of sources in multiple languages, Roy explores topics such as the relationship between the princes and their British overlords, the impact of colonialism on indigenous institutions, and the emergence of new forms of political and cultural identity among the native populations. This book remains essential reading for anyone interested in the history of South Asia and the legacy of colonialism in the region. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.