BIKANER.
441
situated
on a
the soil
being stony and totally unfit for cultivation.
some
points,
it
elevation
slight
amid a scene of
singular dreariness,
Viewed from
presents the appearance of a great city, having a fine
surmounted by round towers, and crowned with battlements. So is its appearance, that, when approached in 1808 by Elphinstone’s mission, there were disputes among his followers whether it was not more extensive than Delhi. Some high houses and temples rising above the ramparts, and the striking outline of the lofty fort, add to the impressive appearance of the place. The wall, 3I miles in wall
imposing
circuit, is built
wholly of stone, and has
It is 6 feet thick,
feet
high and
2 to
feet.
4
and from 15
five gates
and three
sally-ports.
to 30 feet high, including a parapet 6
the breadth of the terre-plain varying from a ditch on three sides only, the ground on the
2 feet thick,
There
is
southern face being intersected by deep ravines, which have broken
up the whole
As
plain in that quarter.
the soil
is
kankar.,
or cal-
careous conglomerate intermingled with silicious pebbles, the sides of the ditch, though not lined with masonr)’, are nearly perpendicular.
The depth
is
about
1
5 feet, the
breadth
20
feet,
the interval between
the wall and the ditch from 20 to 30 yards ; but in some places the excavation has been quite filled up. In the interior are many good
houses, faced with red sandstone richly carved.
Dr. Moore,
who was
carved buildings are more numerous in Bikaner than in any of the Rajput capitals. This tracery is called khuda or fnanbat. But the houses are situated in narrow, superintending
surgeon,
observes
that
where they can scarcely be seen. The poorer kind are besmeared with a sort of reddish clay, abundant in the ravines near the city, which gives the place an appearance of neatness and uniformity, Distinct the walls being all red, and the doors and windows white. wards or sub-divisions are allotted to the respective trades and crafts. dirty lanes,
Dr.
Moore remarks, regarding the interior of the city, that to and the north-east within the walls, there are large open
the north
spaces not yet built over, or with only small houses here and there.
Penetrating farther, the more densely populated portion of the town
and
is
from the extreme irregularity of the streets, lanes,
and spaces, defies any clear description. None of the capitals or large provincial towns of Rajputana can vie with Bikaner as regards the grotesque irregularity of its thoroughfares. The population of reached
this,
its suburbs was returned in 1881 at 43,283, of whom 21,409 are males and 21,874 females; the Hindus number 31,602; IMuhammadans, 7354; others,’ 4327 the number of houses within
the city and
‘
the city in 1874, 7331, with 1470 in the suburbs. Of these, 1015 were of masonry. The total number of shops was 741; temples, 13; mosques, 14.
The most numerous
classes are the Baniyas, chiefly Oswals
and
Mahesris, whose united numbers amount to 10,000; and the Brahmans,
