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* * * He will, I am sure, do his best to promote the well-being of the popula- tion, though as parties now existing in the Darbiir, I do not expect him to be able to guard against mis- appropriation and undue expenditure of the revenue altogether.'’ The Bombay Government issued a resolution on the subject in these words : — '' The Governor in Council will only repeat on this occasion that they have no desire to interfere with the Nav^b’s choice of his own minister, and 12 that they trust His Highness will be satisfied with the person whom he has now selected.” Thus Gokulaji’s high character led him to the highest step of the ladder he had begun to ascend a few years before. The same year brought Gokulaji- bhai and Mr. S^tmalad^sa into personal contact with each other. Both being learned and of kindred character in many respects, they became very inti- mate friends, carried on correspondence on philoso- phical subjects, and delighted each other by instruc- tive conversation on different topics when they met, which happened not infrequently. The conflicting interests prevailing at Jun%adh did not allow rest. Many intrigues were going on. Gokulaji was not allowed to exercise his powers. He remained a nominal Div4n. He foresaw the evil consequences of this deplorable state of affairs. He, therefore, thought it advisable to repair to the Political Agent’s Camp, where he found congenial company. A great stroke of policy was effected at Jun^gadh in 1862. The young Navab Saheb was detatched from his mother and a revolution took place in the State. The services of Mr. Connon, of the ‘ Bombay Gazette,’ were secured in this crisis. By means of thundering articles in his paper he was instrumental in getting Col. Barr, the Political Agent, suspended. Col. Keatinge was sent as Political Agent in 1863 with special instructions. He accordingly adopted quite a new policy in the relations of the Native States under the Agency. His firm dealings spread dismay in many Courts. Mr. Anantaji, believed to be veiy competent, was deputed to re- present the Jun^adh State before Col. Keatinge. 13 In his first visit he touched on extraneous subjects as usual. Col. Keatinge did not like this, and restricted him to Jun^adha afiairs. At the time of taking leave, Mr. Anantaji was told that, in future, the minister, whosoever he might be, should attend the Agent. The next time, of course, Div^n Gokulaji was sent. The fame of his acquirements, truthfulness and honesty, had preceded him. Col. Keatinge was very much pleased at meeting him. His dignified appear- ance, his straightforwardness, his conversation in pure Hindustani, his wide knowledge and his learned remarks, impressed that officer very favourably. This estimation grew higher and higher the more they came in contact. They became great friends and helped each other. Gokulaji now began to in- troduce improvements into the State by the kind advice of Col. Keatinge. He became in reality, instead of nominally, Div^n of the first of the four first class States of Saur^shtra. His salary was increased. It became well known that the British Agent enter- tained the highest regard for him. His virtues shone forth more conspicuously. In short, he was consider- ed the most deserving, fortunate, and influential gentleman in the Province. Col, Keatinge was desirous of drawing closer the relations between Europeans and natives. He used, therefore, to invite them to meet together socially at evening-parties and conversaziones. Amidst all this earthly prosperity, Gokulajibhii’s interest in the elevating Vedanta never slackened. The worldly prosperity he had acquired enabled him to devote his time and attention with greater ease to 2 li saldime aim of his life. After qualifying himself by mastering most of the principal works on ths ViAnta philosophy, he b^an to expound its noble and transcendental doctrines, first, in the temple of the H^takes'vara MahMeva, and afterwards at his own residence, before a select and pious audience. He ako entered into correspondence on the same subject with Mr. Gauris'ankara Udayas'ankara, the able minister of Bhd-vanagara, his intimate friend Mr. S&maladSsa Param^nandaddsa, to whom this biography is dedicated, and with the writer of this, who now has the honour to pay a humble tribute to his memory by writing his life. The valuable and learned letters here referred to are incorporated in the Gujarati portion of this biography, which they so richly adorn. He was so well versed in the Veddnta, that even some of its able andiproficient saints, the Samny^ins, were struck with his deep knowledge of its esoteric as well as exoteric doctrines, and highly praised him for it. In fact, his stock of knowledge was very extraordinary, and the more easily acquired, because he took the greatest delight in philosophy. It was the all-absorbing subject of his life. He paid the greatest respect to the most philosophical, transcen- dental, convincing, elevating and noble master-pieces of the unsurpassable S'ankara, who recognising the divineness of Nature, and the divineness of Man, and having sincere communion with the mysterious invi- sible Powers visibly seen at work in the world round him, and continually unfolding the Godlike to men has (hstilled from the hearts of the Upanishads and other S'^stras — philosophical and religious works,— , 15 the gems of most glorious, helpful and lovely light for the enlightenment of mankind, the problems of whose highest and most sacred interests in life are successfully solved therein. He is one of the few writers who, while marked by strongly national characteristics, belong to the world rather than to a particular country. In 1867, the Nav^b Mohabatkh&nji’s desire of seeing his son, B^pumi^ S^heb, recognised as heir- apparent by the British Government, was fulfilled. A Darbir was held by Col. Keatinge at R&jkot for declaring the same to the Nav^b S^heb in public. GokuljibhM delivered a speech on the occasion with such eloquence as to elicit expressions of admi- ration jfrom the whole audience. About the same time, Gokuljibh^i, accompanied by his friend and colleague, Kb^n Bahadur S&^leh Hindi, visited Bombay for the first time, at the urgent advice of Col. Keatinge. Mr. DhirajaUl treated them very hospitably. Mr. PrinalM under- took to be their guide. Col. Keatinge happened also to be in Bombay at the same time. He introduc- ed Gokulajibh&i to the Governor, Sir Bartle Frere, in a Darb&r, in flattering language. GokulajibhS.i and SMeh Hindi remained in Bombay for about three months, and saw much that was worth seeing. Mr. Karsandds Mulji entertained them by giving a party in their honour, to which the Bombay gentry were invited. GokulajibhM had been led to entertain a very high opinion of the Buddhi Vardhaka Sabb& by Mr. PrS^lM when he was at Jun&gadh. GokulajitMi was anxious to see a meeting of the society personally. But the times were greatly 16 changed. The society was not now what Mr. Prd^a- IM had described it to be. He, therefore, tried to evade the question, but Gokuljibh&i again and again expressed his desire to have the pleasure of being present at a meeting of the Society. Its Secretary, Mr. DalapatiAm P. Khakhar, was requested by Mr. Pr^nalM to convene a meeting. He in his turn, in vain requested many members to deliver a lecture therein. At last he came to the present writer and stated the position. In a very happy moment, he complied with the Secretary’s wishes, and consented to read a paper. A meeting was called in Moti Raghun^th’s Hall. Dr. Bh^u D^ji presided, and a paper on “ Native States, ’’ specially prepared for the occasion, was read. Thus began the acquaint- ance, which ripening into close connection and friendship, continued ever increasing ‘like a river’ in affection and esteem with great benefit, not only to the writer himself, but also to many others of the happy band of friends, among whom he is a link. Gokulajibhili, being a N&gara BiAhmana by caste, gave a dinner-party to the Bombay N%aras, a day before his departure, and we there met again. At the time of parting he said : — “ It is f^frr. Know- ledge, that has accidentally brought us together and joined us into friendship, and we should hence- forth regard each other as ‘ hereditary * friends and carry on correspondence.” In fact, it seemed as if we were but renewing the relations of a previous existence. “ So, friend, when first I looked upon your face Our thoughts gave answer each to each, so true. Opposed mirrors each reflecting each— 17 Although I knew not in what time or place, Methought that I had often met with you And each had lived in other’s mind and speech. ” Tennyson's Sonnet. In 1867, Col. Keatinge, while in England on furlough, was appointed Agent -to the Governor General in Rajput^nsl. He, on returning to India, went directly there, and was succeeded by Col. Anderson. Col. Keatinge’s departure was an irreparable loss to Gokuljibh&i. He, accompanied by Messrs. Nara- sinhaprasMa and BapubhM, the Agency Daftard^r, went to Serohi to pay respects to Col. Keatinge, who heartily welcomed them. Col. Keatinge address- ed a letter from Serohi to the Navd,b Saheb, in which he shrewdly observed, “ Messrs. Gokulajibhii, B&.U- dinbh^i, SMeh Hindi, and NarasinhaprasMa, are the four pillars of the State, and as long as they are in harmony, the State will prosper. They visited many places of pilgrimage during this journey. In 1868, the V^ghira disturbance was suppressed, but the people of the Province suffered from another cause. Some interested persons tried to implicate respectable men in the matter. One, Mr.