Banjāras: Salt Trade.

—This productive branch of industry still employs thousands of hands, and hundreds of thousands of oxen, and is almost entirely in the hands of that singular race of beings called Banjaras, some of whose tandas, or caravans, amount to 40,000 head of oxen. The salt is exported to every region of Hindustan, from the Indus to the Ganges, and is universally known and sold under the title of Sambhar Lun, or ‘salt of Sambhar,’ notwithstanding the quality of the different lakes varies, that of Pachbhadra, beyond the Luni, being most esteemed.[27] It is produced by natural evaporation, expedited by dividing the surface into pans by means of mats of the Sarkanda grass,[28] which lessens the superficial agitation. It is then gathered and heaped up into immense masses, on whose summit they burn a variety of alkaline plants, such as the sajji,[29] by which it becomes impervious to the weather.

habits of secreting money. A very large treasure was discovered in Nagor by Bijai Singh, when demolishing some old buildings.

Military Forces.

—It only remains to state the military resources of the Rathors, which fluctuate with their revenues. The Rajas maintain a foreign mercenary force upon their fiscal revenues to overawe their own turbulent vassalage. These are chiefly Rohilla and Afghan infantry, armed with muskets and matchlocks; and having cannon and sufficient discipline to act in a body, they are formidable to the Rajput cavaliers. Some years ago, Raja Man had a corps of three thousand five hundred foot, and fifteen hundred horse, with twenty-five guns, commanded by Hindal Khan, a native of Panipat. He has been attached to the family ever since the reign of Bijai Singh, and is (or was) familiarly addressed kaka, or ‘uncle,’ by the prince. There was also a brigade of those monastic militants, the Bishanswamis, under their leader, Kaimdas, consisting of seven hundred foot, three hundred horse, and an establishment of rockets (bhan), a very ancient instrument of Indian warfare, and mentioned long before gunpowder was used in Europe. At one period, the Raja maintained a foreign force amounting to, or at least mustered as, eleven thousand men, of which number two thousand five hundred were cavalry, with fifty-five guns, and a rocket establishment. Besides a monthly pay, lands to a considerable amount were granted to the commanders of the different legions. By these overgrown establishments, to maintain a superiority over the feudal lords which has been undermined by the causes related, the demoralization and ruin of this country have been accelerated. The existence of such a species of force, opposed in moral and religious sentiment to the retainers of the State, has only tended to widen the breach between them and their head, and to destroy every feeling of confidence.

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]