Introductory

The state of Mewar lies in the south of Rajputana. In shape and position it resembles a rectangle, placed obliquely, so that the longer sides face north-west and south - east. Let us call it the rectangle ABCD, A and C being the points at the north and south corners, B and D those at the east and west respectively. The side AB separates the state from the British district of Ajmfr, the side BC from the territories of Bundi and Malwa, CD from the district of Gujarat, and DA from Sirohi, Godwar, and Marwar or Jodhpur. The length of the rectangle is roughly 150 miles, its breadth from 80 to 100, and its area is 13,000 square miles. The upper portion is a rich undulating plateau sloping gradually to the north-east, while the lower or south-western portion is almost entirely covered with hills, rocks, and dense jungles. The Aravalli hills extend throughout the entire lengths of the sides AD and DC, increasing in height and width as they approach the point D, where the highest peaks rise more than 4,500 feet above the level of the sea. Mount Abu is a few miles to the west of the point D. Near this spot, and on the eastern side of the hills, rises the principal river of Mewar, the Banas, which, flowing in a direction east by north-east, leaves the state near Deoli on the eastern boundary, and eventually joins the Chambal, of which it is the chief tributary. In the same corner of the rectangle is Udaipur, the





present capital. It is situated in a valley some eighty-square miles in extent. Three main passes lead into the valley from the east, while from the west it is almost inaccessible. The ancient capital, Chitor, is situated near the middle point of the side BC. The mountains on this side belong to the Satpiira range, and, though lower than the Aravallis, are equally wild and precipitous, and present a no less effectual barrier against foreign invasion. The whole of this mountainous tract, bordering nearly three sides of the rectangle, is inhabited by the Bhils and other aboriginal tribes, living in a state of primeval and savage independence. For centuries they acknowledged no paramount power, and paid tribute to none. Their chiefs were men of no small authority and influence, and could, when occasion demanded, muster as many as five thousand bows. The northern portion of the Aravallis averages from six to fifteen miles in breadth, having upwards of one hundred and fifty villages scattered over its valleys. This region is abundantly watered, and not deficient in pasture ; there is cultivation enough for all internal wants, though the produce is raised with infinite labour on terraces, as the vine is cultivated in Switzerland and on the Rhine. The valleys abound in variegated quartz and varieties of schistous slate of every hue. The latter is largely used for the roofing of houses and temples, to which, when illumined by the rays of the sun, it gives a most singular appearance. The tin and silver mines of Mewar were, in ancient times, very productive; but, during the domination of the Moguls, political reasons led to the concealment of such sources of wealth, and now the caste of miners is almost extinct.



Copper is still abundant and supplies the currency, while the garnet, the chrysolite, rock crystals, and inferior kinds of the emerald family, are all to be found within the state.

Such are the main features of the country whose story we are about to commence ; a country richly endowed by nature, and peopled by one of the noblest races of the east. Within her boundaries Mewar contained all the elements of future greatness ; but the very sources of prosperity led to her downfall. Her fertile plains and prosperous cities became a standing temptation to the hoards of hungry invaders who came with monotonous regularity to devastate her fields and batten on her wealth. The Rajput, with a spirit of constancy and enduring courage to which the history of the world hardly affords a parallel, seized every opportunity