CHAPTER 16
Extent of Mārwār.
Physical Features, Population.
Classes of Inhabitants.
The Rāthors.
In periods of civil commotion, or when the safety of the State was perilled, we hear of one clan (the Champawat) mustering four thousand horse. But if ever so many of “the sons of Champa” were congregated at one time, it is an extraordinary occurrence, and far beyond the demand which the State has upon their loyalty. To estimate what may be demanded of them, we have only to divide the rent-roll by five hundred rupees, the qualification for a cavalier in Maru, and to add, for each horse, two foot-soldiers. A schedule of the greater feudal estates shall be appended.
Soil, Agriculture, Products.
The districts south of the Luni, as Pali, Sojat, and Godwar, fertilized by the numerous petty streams flowing from the Aravalli, produce abundantly every species of grain with the exception of bajra, which thrives best in a sandy soil; and in Nagor and Merta considerable quantities of the richer grains are raised by irrigation from wells. The extensive western divisions of Jalor, Sanchor, and Bhinmal, containing [165] five hundred and ten towns and villages, which are Khalisa, or ‘fiscal land,’ possess an excellent soil, with the advantage of the rills from Abu, and the great southern barrier; but the demoralized government of Raja Man never obtains from them one-third of their intrinsic capability, while the encroachment of the Sahariyas, and other robbers from the Sindi desert, encroach upon them often with impunity. Wheat, barley, rice, juar (millet), mung (pulse), til (sesamum), are the chief products of the richer lands; while amidst the sandy tracts they are confined to bajra, mung, and til. With good government, Marwar possesses abundance of means to collect stores against the visitations which afflict these northern regions: but prejudice steps in to aid the ravages of famine, and although water is near the surface in all the southern districts, the number of wells bears no proportion to those in Mewar. The great district of Nagor, of five hundred and sixty towns and villages, the appanage of the heirs-apparent of Maru, in spite of physical difficulties, is, or has been made, an exception; and the immense sheet of sandstone, on which a humid soil is embedded, has been pierced throughout by the energies of ancient days, and contains greater aids to agriculture than many more fertile tracts in the country.
Natural Productions.
Manufactures.
Commercial Marts.
Pali was the entrepôt for the eastern and western regions, where the productions of India, Kashmir, and China, were interchanged for those of Europe, Africa, Persia, and Arabia. Caravans (kitars), from the ports of Cutch and Gujarat, imported elephants’ teeth, copper, dates, gum-arabic, borax, coco-nuts, broadcloths, silks, sandal-wood, camphor, dyes, drugs, oxide and sulphuret of arsenic, spices, coffee, etc. In exchange, they exported chintzes, dried fruits, jira,[[12]] asafoetida from Multan, sugar, opium (Kotah and Malwa), silks and fine cloths, potash, shawls, dyed blankets, arms, and salt of home manufacture.
Caravans.
Decay of Commerce. The Opium Trade.
We then put an arbitrary value upon the drug, and forced the grower to come to us, and even take credit to ourselves for consulting his interests. Even admitting that such price was a remunerating one, founded upon an average of past years, still it is not the less arbitrary. No allowance is made for plentiful or bad seasons, when the drug, owing to a scarcity, will bear a double price. Our legislation is for “all seasons and their change.” But this virtual infraction of the faith of treaties is not confined to the grower or retailer; it affects others in a variety of ways; it injures our reputation and the welfare of those upon whom, for benevolent purposes, we have forced our protection. The transit duties levied on opium formed an item in the revenues of the princes of Rajputana; but confiscation guards the passes of the Aravalli and Gujarat, and unless the smuggler wrap up his cargo in ample folds of deceit, the Rajput may go without his amal-pani, the infusion of this poison, dearer to him than life. It is in vain to urge that sufficient is allowed for home consumption. Who is to be the judge of this? or who is so blind as not to see that any latitude of this kind would defeat the monopoly, which, impolitic in its origin, gave rise in its progress to fraud, gambling, and neglect of more important agricultural economy. But this policy must defeat itself: the excess of quantity produced will diminish the value of the original (Patna) monopoly, if its now deteriorated quality should fail to open the eyes of the quick-sighted Chinese, and exclude it from the market altogether.[[15]]
Fairs.
Administration of Justice.
Trial by Ordeal.
Panchayats.
Fiscal Revenues.
- 1. The Khalisa, or ‘crown-lands.’
- 2. The salt lakes.
- 3. Transit and impost duties.
- 4. Miscellaneous taxes, termed Hasil.
The entire amount of personal revenue of the princes of Marwar does not at present exceed ten lakhs of rupees (£100,000 sterling), though in the reign of Bijai Singh half a century ago, they yielded full sixteen lakhs, one-half of which arose from the salt lakes alone. The aggregate revenue of the feudal lands is estimated as high as fifty lakhs, or £500,000. It may be doubted whether at present they yield half this sum.[[23]] The feudal contingents are estimated at five thousand horse, besides foot, the qualification being one cavalier and two foot-soldiers for every thousand rupees of income.[[24]] This low estimate is to keep up the nominal value of estates, notwithstanding their great deterioration; for a ‘knight’s fee’ of Marwar was formerly estimated at five hundred rupees.
The sum of ten lakhs, mentioned as the gross income of the prince, is what is actually realized by the treasury, for there are many public servants provided for out of the crown-lands, whose estates are not included.
Methods of Revenue Collection.
Poll Tax.
Cattle Tax.
Door Tax.
Sāīr.
| Jodhpur | Rs. 76,000 |
| Nagor | 75,000 |
| Didwana | 10,000 |
| Parbatsar | 44,000 |
| Merta | 11,000 |
| Kolia | 5,000 |
| Jalor | 25,000 |
| Pali | 75,000 |
| Jasol and Balotra fairs | 41,000 |
| Bhinmal | 21,000 |
| Sanchor | 6,000 |
| Phalodi | 41,000 |
| Total | 430,000 |
The Danis, or collectors of the customs, have monthly salaries at the large towns, while the numerous petty agents are paid by a percentage on the sums collected. The sair, or imposts, include all those on grain, whether of foreign importation, or the home-grown, in transit from one district to another.
The revenue arising from the produce of the salt lakes has deteriorated with the land and commercial revenues; and, though affected by political causes, is yet the most certain branch of income. The following schedule exhibits what has been derived from this lucrative source of wealth [174]:—
| Pachbhadra | Rs. 200,000 |
| Phalodi | 100,000 |
| Didwana | 115,000 |
| Sambhar | 200,000 |
| Nawa | 100,000 |
| Total | 715,000 |
Banjāras: Salt Trade.
habits of secreting money. A very large treasure was discovered in Nagor by Bijai Singh, when demolishing some old buildings.
Military Forces.
In Mewar there are sixteen great chiefs; in Amber, twelve; in Marwar, eight. The following table exhibits their names, clans, residences, and rated revenue. The contingent required by their princes may be estimated by the qualification of a cavalier, namely, one for every five hundred rupees of rent [176].
| Names of Chiefs. | Clans. | Places of Abode. | Revenue. | Remarks. | |
| FIRST CLASS. | |||||
| 1. | Kesari Singh | Champawat | Awa | 100,000 | Premier noble of Marwar. Of this sum, half is the original grant: the rest is by usurpation of the inferior branches of his clan. |
| 2. | Bakhtawar Singh | Kumpawat | Asop | 50,000 | |
| 3. | Salim Singh | Champawat | Pokaran | 100,000 | The Pokaran chief is by far the most powerful in Marwar. |
| 4. | Surthan Singh | Udawat | Nimaj | 50,000 | The fief of Nimaj is now under sequestration, since the last incumbent was put to death by the Raja. |
| 5. | .. | Mertia | Rian | 25,000 | The Mertia is deemed the bravest of all the Rathor clans. |
| 6. | Ajit Singh | Mertia | Ghanerao | 50,000 | This feoff formed one of the sixteen great feoffs of Mewar. |
| 7. | .. | Karamsot | Khinwasar | 40,000 | The town, which is large, has been dismantled, and several villages sequestrated. |
| 8. | .. | Bhatti | Khejarla | 25,000 | The only foreign chief in the first grade of in the first grade of the nobles of Marwar. |
| SECOND CLASS. | |||||
| 1. | Sheonath Singh | Udawat | Kuchaman | 50,000 | A chief of considerable power. |
| 2. | Surthan Singh | Jodha | Khari-ka-dewa | 25,000 | |
| 3. | Prithi Singh | Udawat | Chandawal | 25,000 | |
| 4. | Tej Singh | Do. | Khada | 25,000 | |
| 5. | Anar Singh | Bhatti | Ahor | 11,000 | In exile. |
| 6. | Jeth Singh | Kumpawat | Bagori | 40,000 | |
| 7. | Padam Singh | Do. | Gajsinghpura | 25,000 | |
| 8. | .. | Mertia | Mehtri | 40,000 | |
| 9. | Kartan Singh | Udawat | Marot | 15,000 | |
| 10. | Zalim Singh | Kumpawat | Rohat | 15,000 | |
| 11. | Sawai Singh | Jodha | Chaupar | 15,000 | |
| 12. | .. | .. | Budsu | 20,000 | |
| 13. | Sheodan Singh | Champawat | Kaota (great) | 40,000 | |
| 14. | Zalim Singh | Do. | Harsola | 10,000 | |
| 15. | Sawal Singh | Do. | Degod | 10,000 | |
| 16. | Hukm Singh | Do. | Kaota (little | 11,000 | |
These are the principal chieftains of Marwar, holding lands on the tenure of service. There are many who owe allegiance and service on emergencies, the allodial vassals of Marwar, not enumerated in this list; such as Barmer, Kotra, Jasol, Phulsund, Birganw, Bankaria, Kalindri, Barunda, who could muster a strong numerical force if their goodwill were conciliated, and the prince could enforce his requisition. The specified census of the estates may not be exactly correct. The foregoing is from an old record, which is in all probability the best they have; for so rapid are the changes in these countries, amidst the anarchy and rebellion we have been describing, that the civil officers would deem it time thrown away, to form, as in past times, an exact pattabahi, or ‘register’ of feoffs. The ancient qualification was one horseman and two foot soldiers, “when required,” for each five hundred rupees in the rental; but as the estates have been curtailed in extent and diminished in value, in order to keep up their nominal amount, one thousand is now the qualification [178].[[30]]