BIKANER.
440 49,907, of the
some of whom cultivate the soil ; Rajputs, 41,696, three-fourths number being cultivators; and Brahmans, 55,816, also mostly
cultivators.
there
is
no
Spare land being very
and
plentiful, the holdings are large,
struggle for shares, as in adjoining British territory.
The
proprietary right in land throughout Bikaner belongs, as a rule, to
The cultivator’s right of occupancy is supposed to depend on his ability to meet the State demands. The yearly revenues of the Maharajd amount to about 25,000, collected in the form of landtax, customs, fines, civil court fees, and minor items. The following are the Districts and chief towns of the State In the north, Tibi, Amipgarh, Sardargarh, Suratgarh, and Hanumangarh in the northeast, Nohar and Bahddran in the east, Rajgarh and Chiiru in the south-east, Shujangarh and Ratangarh and Pugal in the west. Other large towns are Reni, Sardar Shir, Deshnuk, Kolath, Bidesar, and the State.
—
Bhatnair.
The ruling family of Bikaner is of the Rdhtor clan of Rdjputs. The State was founded by Bika, born in 1439, *^^6 sixth son of Jodha Rao of Marwar, the founder of Jodhpur. The first contact of the British Government with Bikaner State occurred in 1808, when Mr. Elphinstone, the British Envoy, passing through on his way towards Kabul, was treated with great respect by the Maharaja, Surat Singh. In r8i8, the country being overrun by the Pindaris, supported by rebellious nobles, British troops, in accordance with a treaty then
made, entered the territory and suppressed the insurgents. Twelve were taken by the British, and handed over to the Maharaja. Siirat Singh died in 1828, and was succeeded by Ratan Singh. In the first Sikh war (1845), Bikaner troops marched in conjunction and during the with British forces towards Firozpur (Ferozepore) second Sikh campaign (1848), a small body of horse and artillery were placed at the disposal of the British, and camels and stores were collected but it was found that the route through Bikaner could not be advantageously used by troops, owing to want of water and supplies. During the Mutiny, the Bikaner chief. Sirdar Singh, furnished a force forts in all
to co-operate with General Courtland against the mutineers of Sirsa,
In recognition 01 these services, the Hansi, and Hissar. Government bestowed 41 villages on the .Maharaja, in addition right
of adoption.
The
entitled to a salute of
or contingents;
it
1
7
present guns.
chief
is
an adopted son.
British to the
He
is
Bikaner contributes to no local corps
maintains a force of 960 cavalry, 180 artillerymen,
[For further information 1 700 infantry, 24 field and 56 other guns. regarding Bikaner State, see the Rdjputdna Gazetteer, vol. i. pp. 179-202 (Calcutta, 1879).]
Bikaner
in
—
The capital of the Rajput State of the same 1438 by Bika, sixth son of Jodha Rao of Marwar ;
{Bickaneer ).
name, founded
