Xll deathless, secure in the songs and legends of the Deccan over which he so graciously ruled. We are grateful to Mr. Zahir Ahmed for this labour of love which has given us a miniature autobiography as it were within the framework ofab iography. For who better than Sir Nizamat Jung could have interpreted and harmonised the many and somewhat dissimilar aspects of himself as poet, politician, courtier, administrator, equally at home in the seclusion of a scholar's study and in the larger world of public affairs, ardent votary of European literatures and philosophies whose mind seemed to tarry unduly long in the classic groves and romantic landscapes of western culture, and now, in the ultimate realiza- tion of his true destiny, a humble and mystic pilgrim in the caravan of ilw Islam whose benevolent message of brotherhood was spread not only in Eastern lands, but to quote the beautiful words of Sir Nizamat Jung, journeyed from " Persia's Magian shrines to Gothic Spain From Memphian deserts to Byzantium old." Hyderabad-Deccan SAROJININAID U.