Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 2 (2nd edition).pdf/451

 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,