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 BANS]VARA.

102

Brahmans of the cultivating classes the roads here are in fair order and practicable for carts during the greater part of the year. The

remainder of the country

and woodland, and

throughout the State



rains travelling

Of the geology

used.

covered with rugged

river of the State

its



is difficult,

unless an elephant

The Mahi

it

always fordable.

is

44'3 inches per annum, and the temperature in

F.j rains, 80° to 83°

tolerably plentiful

often a scarcity in the

banks are between 40 and 50

e.xcept in the rainy season is

is

is

of Banswara scarcely anything

mineral productions are unimportant.

its

rocks, scrub-jungle

hills,

Water

in the Bhi'l tracts there

summer, and during the is

is

inhabited by Bhils.

is

is

is

known, and

the principal

feet

and

high,

The average rainfall summer 92° to 100°

Fever is the most formidable Banswara belong to the Sesodia clan of Rajputs now ruling in Dungarpur, of which they are a junior branch. In the 1 6th century the whole country which now comprises the two States of Dungarpur and Banswara was under the dominion of one family of Sesodias. On the death of one of the chiefs, Udai Singh, in 1528, the territory was divided between his two sons, and the descendants of the two families are the present chiefs of Dungarpur and Banswara, the river Mahi being fixed as the boundary between the two States. Since that time they have remained distinct and independent of one another. Towards the end of the i8th century, Banswara became more or less subjected to the Marathas it paid

winter, 65° to 70°.

The

and prevalent malady.

chiefs of



Dhar

the Chief of

In 1812, the chief offered to become tributary to the British Government on the condition tribute to

in Central India.

of the expulsion of the Marathas with him

till

1818,

bound himself

to

when a

act in



but no definite relations were formed

treaty

was concluded, by which the chief

subordinate co-operation, and to settle his

accordance with the advice of the British Government, to abstain from disputes and political correspondence with other chiefs, to pay a tribute (not exceeding three-eighths of his revenue), and to furnish troops when required. The tribute was fixed at ^2625, but it has affairs in

since been raised to ;^38oo to defray the cost of additional supervision required

works of

The of

15

by the disorders of the native administration, and

utility to

chief holds the rank of Maharawal, guns.

He

for

the State.

has received

feudatory of the State

is

the

Rao

the right

and

of Kushalgarh,

domain

in the south of

the

lank in the State, who pay a

is

entitled to a salute

of adoption.

who

The

chief

holds a compact

Banswara; there are besides 13 thdhirs of total tribute of ;^i6i2 to their chief. The revenue of Banswara is about ^{^28,000, of which 33 feudatories enjoy about The population has been returned at of whom the Bhils form more than one-third, (1881) 152,045, while the inhabitants of the chief towns are mostly Hindus of the first