Chapter 26

The Mers or Meras: their history and manners—The Barwatia of
Gokulgarh—Forms of outlawry—Ajit Singh, the chief of
Ghanerao—Plains of Marwar—Chief of Rupnagarh—Anecdote
respecting Desuri—Contrast between the Sesodias of Mewar
and the Rathors of Marwar—Traditional history of the
Rajputs—Ghanerao—Kishandas, the Rana’s envoy—Local
discrimination between Mewar and Marwar—Ancient feuds—The
_aonla_ and the _bawal_—Aspect of Marwar—Nadol—Superiority
of the Chauhan race—Guga of Bhatinda—Lakha of Ajmer: his
ancient fortress at Nadol—Jain relic there—The Hindu
ancient arch or vault—Inscriptions—Antiquities at
Nadol—Indara—Its villages—Pali, a commercial mart—Articles
of commerce—The bards and genealogists the chief
carriers—The ‘Hill of Virtue’—Khankhani—Affray between two
caravans—Barbarous self-sacrifices of the
Bhats—Jhalamand—March to Jodhpur—Reception _en route_ by
the Chiefs of Pokaran and Nimaj—Biography of these
nobles—Sacrifice of Surthan of Nimaj—Encamp at the
capital—Negotiation for the ceremonies of reception at the
Court of Jodhpur 789

CHAPTER 27

Jodhpur: town and castle—Reception by the Raja—Person and
character of Raja Man Singh—Visits to the Raja—Events in
his history—Death of Raja Bhim—Deonath, the high-priest of
Marwar—His assassination—The acts which succeeded
it—Intrigues against the Raja—Dhonkal Singh, a pretender
to the _gaddi_—Real or affected derangement of the
Raja—Associates his son in the government—Recalled to the
direction of affairs—His deep and artful policy—Visit to
Mandor, the ancient capital—Cenotaphs of the
Rathors—Cyclopean architecture of Mandor—Nail-headed
characters—The walls—Remains of the palace—Toran, or
triumphal arch—Than of Thana Pir—Glen of
Panchkunda—Statues carved from the rock—Gardens at
Mandor—An ascetic—Entertainment at the palace—The Raja
visits the envoy—Departure from Jodhpur 820