Chapter 16

Extent and population of Marwar—Classification of
inhabitants—Jats—Rajputs, sacerdotal, commercial, and
servile tribes—Soil—Agricultural products—Natural
productions—Salt lakes—Marble and limestone quarries—Tin,
lead, and iron mines—Alum—Manufactures—Commercial
marts—Transit trade—Pali, the emporium of Western
India—Mercantile classes—Khadataras and Oswals—Kitars, or
caravans—Imports and exports enumerated—Charans, the
guardians of the caravans—Commercial decline—Causes—Opium
monopoly—Fairs of Mundwa and Balotra—Administration of
justice—Punishments—Raja Bijai Singh’s clemency to
prisoners, who are maintained by private charity—Gaol
deliveries on eclipses, births, and accession of
princes—Sagun, or ordeals: fire, water, burning
oil—Panchayats—Fiscal revenues and regulations—Batai, or
corn-rent—Shahnahs and Kanwaris—Taxes—Anga, or capitation
tax—Ghaswali, or pasturage—Kewari, or door tax; how
originated—Sair, or imposts; their amount—Dhanis, or
collectors—Revenues from the salt-lakes—Tandas, or
caravans engaged in this trade—Aggregate revenues—Military
resources—Mercenaries—Feudal quotas—Schedule of
feoffs—Qualification of a cavalier 1104

BOOK VI

ANNALS OF BIKANER