Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 3.djvu/647

Rh a system of irrigation developed, new tanks and wells con structed, and an excellent system of roads and public buildings organized. In 1871-72 the revenue of the Bhartpur state amounted to 261,957. For educational purposes one college and 147 schools, with 3908 students, are maintained at an annual expenditure of 1821. The military force of the state consists of 1500 cavalry, 1500 infantry, and 200 artillery. The police force numbers 2200 men. Owing to the hot winds blowing from Raj putana, the climate of Bhartpur is extremely sultry till the setting in of the periodical rains. Bhartpur city, the capi tal, lies in 27 12 X. lat. and 85 49 E. long.  BHATGÁON, a town of Northern India, in the Nepal valley, situated in 27 37 N. lat. and 85 22 E. long. It is a celebrated place of Hindu superstition, the favourite residence of the Brahmans of Nepal, and contains more families of that order than either Katmandu or Patu. It contains 12,000 houses, and its palace and buildings gene rally are of a more striking appearance than in other Ne- palese towns. The town is said to possess many Sanskrit libraries.  BHATNIÁR, or, a people of the northern part of Hindustan, inhabiting the tract of country now included within the British district of Hissar, formerly called Bhatiana, the eastern frontier of which is situated 125 miles north-west of Dehli. The Bhattis present many peculiarities in manners and customs, distinguishing them from the other people of Hindustan. They consist of two distinct races the one being composed of Mahometans of Rajput descent, who constitute the influential class, and who report among themselves that their ancestors emigrated some centuries ago from the district of Jasalmir, and after various vicissitudes settled in the Bhatniar country; the other comprising the common people, known as Jats, who have adopted the religion of their superiors, and are con sequently treated with great moderation. Most of these people are descended from dwellers on the western bank of the Satlej, who were invited by a Raja of the Bhattis to cross the river and settle in his country. Though tillers of the soil, the Bhattis are more generally characterized as shepherds ; and though they are mostly restricted to the territory whence their name is derived, various tribes of them are to be found in the Panjab, and they are also scattered over the high grounds to the east of the Indus. Notwithstanding they are Mahometans, their customs are in some respects at variance with those observed by the majority of the followers of the prophet, particularly in the females appearing, without reserve, unveiled in public, and in their associating openly with the men. The wives of the Rajput chiefs form an exception. The territory above described, anterior to British sway, was under the dominion of a prince or Rajc4, whose authority was acknowledged by inferior chiefs. This potentate could bring 20,000 or 30,000 men into the field, but they were quite undisciplined, and despised the necessary principle of subordination. His revenue arose chiefly from the plunder his troops secured; for their wars were directed more to predatory purposes than to open contest, and the Raja, instead of repressing the ravages of this immense banditti, willingly participated in the spoils. While under the influence of native rule the Bhattis appear to have formed a collection of hordes of freebooters. They have been described as of a cruel, savage, and fero cious disposition, entertaining an abhorrence of the usages of civilized life thieves from their earliest infancy, and during their predatory incursions into the neighbouring districts, not scrupling, though unresisted, to add murder to robbery. Many of the Bhattis appear to be constantly changing their residence from place to place as subsistence fails. Their exports are horses, camels, bullocks, buffaloes, and ghi; occasionally they sell some surplus grain above what is necessary for their own consumption, but their traffic is very inconsiderable. A large portion of the country is unproductive, but along the banks of the River Ghagar, from Bhatniar to the town of Sirsa, and also in the vicinity of the Naiwal (Nala, or watercourse), the soil is uncommonly rich, and well adapted for cultivation. The inundations of these rivers fertilize their banks, and the subsidence of the waters leaves a broad margin prepared for plentiful crops of wheat, rice, and barley, which amply reward the labours of the husbandman. The former capital of the Bhattis was Bhatniar, which lies in a situation almost inaccessible to an enemy, for no water is to be procured within 12 miles but what supplies the inhabitants. It was taken, however, in 1398 by Timur, more recently by the military adventurer George Thomas, and finally in 1805 by the Rajd of Bikanir, who still retains authority over it. The principal town is Sirsa, between which and Bhawalpur a route for commercial pur poses has been opened. Numbers of the Bhattis have- emigrated from their native country to establish them selves in the western parts of the dominions of Oudh ; and several families of them are to be met with in Rohilkhand. They are practised travellers, and well trained to emigra tion by the laborious journeys undertaken in crossing the great desert to the west of their territories. During the independence of their native rulers, expeditions were fre quently made in large parties for the purpose of preda tory incursions on peaceable countries more remote ; and these banditti displayed both skill and determination in attaining their object. Camels previously laden with provisions were despatched to different stations in the desert, which is about 130 miles in breadth, and their loads deposited there. The most intelligent of the party about to follow were then selected as guides, and enforced the most implicit obedience on their companions during the journey, which closed at the frontier of the hostile country, or rather that against which their hostility was directed. The guides by long experience became expert without compass or landmark, and seldom failed to con duct the party to the appointed station where the provi sions were deposited, and thence across the remainder of the desert in safety. If accidentally they missed the points of rendezvous, or those where alone their necessities could be relieved, they were exposed to inevitable destruc tion. The adventurers steered their course by the sun in the day-time, and by the polar star at night ; and by similar aids they were enabled to retrace the way they had travelled. The history of the Bhattis has attracted the notice of few European authors. They seem to have carried on frequent wars with neighbouring states, and were the most formidable enemies opposed to the Raja of Bikcinir. The latter, however, invaded their territories in the beginning of the present century, and obtained some temporary advantages. He erected a fortress in Batiuda, now a pos session of the Rajd of Patiala, and this contributed to overawe them for a time, and repressed their incursions into his own dominions, as, independently of the garrison, he stationed a large body of cavalry in the fort, whose frequent sallies and captures of cattle annoyed the Bhattis so much that they contemplated a total emigration from their own country. But George Thomas, the military adventurer already noticed, an Irishman by birth, who, endowed with singular talents and intrepidity, had founded for himself an independent state in the north-west of India, was then at war with the province of Bikanir. Having reached its frontiers, the Bhattis solicited his alliance, and, to induce him to espouse their cause the more readily, offered him 40,000 rupees if he would reduce the obnoxious 