It is situated in the second climate. Its length from the village of Bhakar* and dependencies of Ambér to Bikaner and Jaisalmír is 168 kos. Its breadth from the extreme limits of the Sarkár of Ajmer to Bánswárah is 150 kos. To the east lies Agra: to the north the dependencies of Delhi: to the south Gujarát: to the west Dipálpúr and Multán. The soil is sandy, and water obtainable only at great depth, whence the crops are dependent on rain. The winter is temperate, but the summer intensely hot. The spring harvest is inconsiderable. Jowári, Lahdarah and Moṭh are the most abundant crops. A seventh or an eighth of the produce is paid as revenue, and very little in money. The people dwell in tent-shaped bamboo huts. To the south are the (Aravalli) mountains of which the passes are difficult to traverse.
This Súbah is formed of Mewár, Marwár and Hadauti.* The former possesses 10,000 (troops) and the whole of the Sarkár of Chítór is dependent on it. Its length is 40 kos by 30 in breadth. It has three famous fortresses, Chítór the residence of the governor, Kombhalmér* and Mánḍal. In the village of Chádar,* one of the dependencies of Chainpúr is a zinc mine. In Chainpúr and other dependencies of Mánḍal are copper mines, which are extremely profitable.
The chief of the state was formerly called Ráwal, but for a long time past has been known as Ráná.* He is of the Ghelot clan and pretends a descent from Noshirwán the Just.* An ancestor of this family through the vicissitudes of fortune came to Berár and was distinguished as the chief of Narnálah.* About eight hundred years previous to the present time, Narnálah was taken by an enemy and many were slain. One Bápa, a child, was carried by his mother from this scene of desolation to Mewár, and found refuge with Rájah Mandalíkh* a Bhíl. When he grew up to man's estate he followed the pursuit of a shepherd and was devoted to hunting in which his daring was so conspicuous that he became in favour with the Rájá and a trusted minister of state. On the death of the Rájá, his four nephews disputed the succession, but they eventually decided to resign their pretensions in favour of Bápa and to acknowledge his authority. Bápa, however, declined their offer. It happened one day that the finger of one the these four brothers began to bleed, and he drew with the blood the ceremonial mark of installation on the forehead of Bápá, and the others also concurred in accepting his elevation. He then assumed the sovereignty. To this day the custom continues of making with human blood this sign of investiture on any Rána who succeeds to the throne. The ungrateful monarch put the four brothers to death. On a former occasion while passing through the wilds, mistaking one Haranj,* a hermit, for a wild animal, he fitted an arrow to his bow. The hermit intuitively prescient of this action through his purity of heart, made himself known, and the Rájá repentantly excused himself and humbly visited him with assiduity. The hermit one day predicted his elevation, and marvellous tales are told regarding him. Having made his head quarters at Sesodá, the tribe is called Sesodiah and as a Bráhman, at the beginning of their history nurtured their house, they are accounted as belonging to this caste.
When Ráwal Rattan Si* died, a relative named Arsi was raised to the throne and entitled Ráná from whom the present Rána Umrá is tenth in descent, thus; Hamír, Kaitá, Lákha, Mokal, Kombhár, Ráemal, Sángá, Udai Singh, Partáb, Umrá.
Ancient chroniclers record that Sulṭán Alá ud' dín Khilji king of Delhi had heard that Ráwal Rattan Si prince of Mewár possessed a most beautiful wife. He sent to demand her and was refused, upon which he led an army to enforce compliance and laid siege to Chitor. After a long persistence in beleaguering the place in vain, he had recourse to artifice and proposed terms of peace and friendship. The Rájá readily acquiesced and invited him to an entertainment. The Sulṭán entered the fort with his chosen followers and the meeting took place amid festivity and mirth, and finding his opportunity he seized the Rájá and carried him off. It is said that the Sulṭán's retinue consisted of a hundred men and 300 picked soldiers dressed as attendants. Before the Rájá's troops could assemble he was hurried away to the camp amidst the wailing of his people. The king kept the Rájá in close confinement with a view to extort compliance with his desire. The faithful ministers of the Rájá implored the king not to injure him and promised to deliver up to him not only the object of his love but other suitable partners for his harem. They also sent a forged letter purporting to come from the virtuous queen and lulled his suspicions to sleep. The king was delighted and not only refrained from personal violence but treated the Rájá with cordiality. It is related that 700 of the choicest troops dressed as women were placed in litters and set out for the king's camp and it was given out that the Ráni with a large number of her attendants was on the way to the royal pavilion. When they approached the camp, word was sent that the Ráni wished to have an interview with the Rájá previous to entering the king's quarters. Lapped in his illusive dream of security the king granted the interview, during which the soldiers seizing the opportunity, threw off their disguise and bore off their prince. Time after time the Rájpúts stood to face their pursuers fighting manfully and many were slain before the Rájá had gone far. At length the Chauháns, Gaurá and Bádal made a stand fighting to the death enabling the Ráwal to reach Chítor in safety amidst universal acclamation. The king having endured great hardships during the siege and finding it to no purpose, returned to Delhi. After an interval, he set his heart again on the same project but returned discomfited. The Ráwal wearied with these assaults, conceived that an interview with the king might result in an alliance and that he would thus escape this state of continual strife. Guided by a traitor he met the king at a place 7 kos from Chítor where he was basely slain. His relative Arsi, after this fatal event, was raised to the throne. The Sulṭán returned to the seige of Chítor and captured it. The Rájá was slain fighting and all the women voluntarily perished by fire.
Ḥamír his son betook himself to the adjacent mountains. Sulṭán Muhammad Khúni* made over the government of Chítor to Máldeva Chauhán ruler of Jálor. As this prince was unable to bring the province into order, he summoned Ḥamír, made him his son-in-law, and through his means restored its prosperity. At his death, Hamír made away with his sons and raised the standard of independence.*
The present local militia consists of 16,000 cavalry and 40,000 infantry, but Mewár formerly controlled much more extensive territories, so much so that Rájah Sanka (Sanga) possessed a force of 180,000 cavalry and a numerous infantry.
Márwár is 100 kos in length by 60 in breadth, and it comprises the Sarkárs of A´jmer, Jodhpúr, Siróhi, Nágór, and Bikanér. It has long been head quarters of the Ráthor tribe. When Muizz u'd dín Sám* had terminated his campaign against Pithúrá (Prithwi Rájá, A. D. 1191–93), he resolved to turn his arms against Jaichand king of Kanauj. The Rájah in his flight was drowned in the Ganges.* His descendants fell into obscurity. His brother's son Síha,* who resided in Shumsábád was slain with a large number of troops. His three sons Sútík, Ashwatthama* and A´j* set out for Gujarát, and on their way rested at Páli* near Sojhat. In this city dwelt a number of Bráhmans who were much molested by the Mínah tribe, some of whom at this period made a raid on the town. The exiles came out, attacked them valorously, and put them to flight. The Bráhmans gave them great honour and treated them with every consideration and thus alleviated in some degree their distress of heart. As they acquired the means of worldly success they grew bolder and seized Khér* from the Gohel tribe and thus advanced their condition. Sútík independently wrested Edar from the Mínahs, and A´j setting out for Baglánah, took that district by force from the Kolis. From that time their descendants have inhabited the country. The descendants of Ashwatthamá who remained in Márwár gradually gained credit till eventually Maldeva his sixteenth descendant waxed so powerful, that Shér Khán nearly lost his life in his campaign against him.*
This territory contains many forts, but the most important are Ajmér, Jodhpúr, Bíkáner, Jaisalmir, Amarkót, Abúgaṛh and Jálor.
Háḍáoti* is called also the Sarkár of Nágór. It is inhabited by the Háḍá (Hara) tribe.
This Súbah comprises 7 Sarkárs and 197 parganahs. The measured land is 2 Krors 14 lakhs, 35,941 bíghas, 7 biswas. The revenue in money is 28 krórs 84 lakhs, 1,557 dáms, (Rs. 7,210,038-14-9) of which 23 lak 26,336 dáms (Rt. 51,158-6-5). The local force is 86,500 cavalry, 347,?? infantry.